Tayside to the fore as more new faces added

First minister happy to draw on range of backgrounds and experience

Nicola Sturgeon packed her government team with Tayside MSPs to complete her ministerial reshuffle.

Angus politicians Mairi Gougeon and Graeme Dey were drafted into the Scottish Government as part of the SNP leader’s bid to revive her administration.

The first minister had already made major changes to her cabinet on Tuesday, which saw the departure of three senior figures, including Shona Robison.

Joe FitzPatrick, who represents Dundee West, has been shifted from the Parliamentary Business brief to Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing.

Graeme Dey, Angus South, takes on responsibility for veterans as part of an enhanced Parliamentary Business role.

Fellow Angus representative Mairi Gougeon becomes Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment.

Other notable appointments include Kate Forbes entering the government with the new post of Public Finance and Digital Economy.

The Highlands and Islands MSP has been tipped as a high-flyer in the party.

Gillian Martin becomes the Minister for Further and Higher Education, replacing Fife MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, who is now Social Security Minister.

Three senior SNP politicians — Shona Robison, Keith Brown and Angela Constance — lost their cabinet posts in Tuesday’s major reshuffle.

Humza Yousaf became the first person from an ethnic minority to become a Scottish cabinet secretary when he was appointed Justice Secretary.

Jeane Freeman replaced Ms Robison, who stood down following huge pressure over her handling of the cash crisis at NHS Tayside.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The ministerial team represents constituencies the length and breadth of Scotland, coming with a range of professional backgrounds and bringing a breadth of reallife experience to their roles.”

The ministerial team has swelled from 22 to 26 since the last reshuffle after the Holyrood election in May 2016.

There are now six MSPs representing Courier Country who are either cabinet secretaries or junior ministers.

Among those thought to be a ministerial contender but who missed out were Fife MSP Jenny Gilruth as well as Highlands representative Gail Ross.

Scottish Conservative Jackson Carlaw said: “In Nicola Sturgeon’s government, it’s harder to avoid a ministerial brief than to land one.

“The few who’ve been left out must wonder what on earth they’ve done wrong. The SNP repeatedly brags about being transparent, responsible with taxpayers’ cash and quite unlike any other government that’s been before.

“The events of the last few days prove that to be nonsense.”

It’s harder to avoid a ministerial brief than to land one.

Nicola Sturgeon, left, has drafted in Mairi Gougeon and Graeme Dey.