Ministerial role for Argyll MSP Jenni
Argyll and Bute MSP Jenni Minto from Islay has been appointed the minister for public health and women’s health in First Minister Humza Yousaf ’s new ministerial team.
Consisting of 10 cabinet secretaries, including the First Minister, the Scottish cabinet will be supported by 18 junior ministers.
The new minister for transport, taking over from the newly appointed cabinet secretary for education and skills Jenny Gilruth, is Kevin Stewart, SNP MSP for Aberdeen Central. Mr Stewart, who served as minister for local government, housing and planning from 2016 to 2021, is now in charge of fixing the ferry crisis.
Mairi Gougeon, SNP MSP for Angus North and Mearns, remains the cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands. Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick becomes the new minister for equalities, migration and refugees.
Ms Minto, who lives on Islay, takes over from the previous minister for public health and women’s health Maree Todd, who becomes the new minister for social care, mental wellbeing and sport.
Ms Minto will report to the new cabinet secretary for NHS recovery, health and social care Michael Matheson MSP.
Her specific responsibilities are: public health and healthy working lives, women’s health, palliative care, mesh, abortion, child and maternal health, sexual health, medical records, population health, healthy weight, sensory impairment, Food Standards Scotland, community pharmacy, ophthalmology and audiology, Pharmacy First, MyNHS Digital, mobile healthcare, National Pharmaceutical Agency, vaccination programmes, and dentistry.
Ms Minto was an early supporter of Mr Yousaf’s bid to become SNP leader and First Minister, saying: “The next leader of the SNP needs to be able to unite our party and country on the SNP’s vision for independence in Europe. I believe Humza Yousaf has the experience, passion and skill-set required to lead us to that vision.”
Ms Minto, a chartered accountant from Elgin who worked at BBC Scotland in Glasgow for 18 years, moved to Islay with her husband Les Wilson, a writer, documentary maker and former STV political journalist.
On Islay she volunteered for charities including the Islay Energy Trust, and later became manager of the Museum of Islay Life, and chairperson of Islay’s First Wold War commemorations, which in 2018 included more than 40 events.
Following her election as the SNP constituency MSP for Argyll and Bute, Jenni became a member of three parliamentary committees and 15 cross party groups. She lead the campaign to have the UK Government remove VAT from defibrillators which achieved full cross-party support.
She said: “It is a huge honour to have been asked to serve the people of Scotland as the minister for public health and women’s health by our new First Minister.
“I am extremely humbled and very excited to be working closely with the Michael Matheson MSP and Maree Todd MSP in this portfolio.
“My thanks to my fantastic constituency team who will continue to help me support my constituents in Argyll and Bute.”