FM makes minor changes to cabinet
JOHN Swinney has announced his first cabinet after he was appointed First Minister.
His cabinet is almost exactly the same as the one he inherited from Humza Yousaf with minor tweaks to accommodate Kate Forbes.
Forbes returns to cabinet as Deputy First Minister with responsibility for the economy and Gaelic.
That means Shona Robison is no longer deputy first minister but stays as finance secretary.
Swinney said: “I am very pleased to appoint Kate as Deputy First Minister and look forward to working with her in this new government.
“She is an immensely talented politician, and her new role will prove critical as we focus on our key commitments of eradicating child poverty, investing in public services and supporting economic growth.”
Forbes said: “I am deeply honoured to accept John’s invitation to be his Deputy First Minister.
“This is a moment of extraordinary privilege for me. Having previously served in cabinet, I know the duty that all ministers have to reflect the Government’s priorities and the missions that drive them.
“I look forward to working with John and cabinet colleagues, delivering for the people of Scotland and building a better country.”
Mairi McAllan loses the economy part of her portfolio but stays in cabinet as secretary for net zero and energy.
All the other personnel and roles remain the same.
Jenny Gilruth remains cabinet secretary for education and skills.
Angela Constance stays as cabinet secretary for justice and home affairs.
Fiona Hyslop remains cabinet secretary for transport. Neil Gray keeps his post as cabinet secretary for health and social care.
Shirley- Anne Somerville stays as cabinet secretary for social justice.
Angus Robertson is still cabinet secretary for constitution, external affairs and culture.
Mairi Gougeon remains cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands.
The First Minister said: “Ahead of my appointment as First Minister, I committed to working collaboratively across the Parliament to address the pressing issues facing the people of Scotland.
“With that in mind, I have selected a cabinet team that blends experience and energy, with a strong focus on the priorities my government will pursue – eradicating child poverty, driving economic growth, meeting climate obligations and investing in our vital public services.
“My overriding priority will be to work to eradicate child poverty in Scotland, an issue on which real progress has been made through measures such as the Scottish Child Payment. The government I lead will maximise every lever at our disposal to tackle the scourge of poverty in our country.”
Any changes to the junior ministerial team have yet to be announced.