Dundee MSP Shona Robison has quit as Scotland’s deputy first minister – paving the way for “unity” with Kate Forbes in her place.
Ms Robison will stay on as the SNP’s finance secretary, the cabinet role she was given last year when Humza Yousaf made her his No2.
John Swinney said last week he intended to make Ms Forbes a key member of his team in government if he became SNP leader.
He won the contest to succeed Mr Yousaf unopposed after she declined to stand against him.
Mr Swinney thanked Dundee City East MSP Ms Robison for her “selfless generosity” in stepping aside from her post as deputy.
He said her decision would help him “create the inclusive and unified team” he needs to run the country.
He said: “I deeply appreciate your willingness to help the process of taking forward our party and our government by offering to step aside from the role of deputy first minister.
“It is a role you have carried out well and with dedication, as you have in all your roles in government.
“I thought hard about your offer because I recognise it as an act of selfless generosity.
“I agree with you that it will help me create the inclusive and unified team that is needed to take Scotland forward.”
New Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said it was an “extraordinary privilege” to have been appointed as Mr Swinney’s No2.
She will also hold the government’s economy brief, along with responsibility for Gaelic.
She previously served as Scotland’s finance chief until Nicola Sturgeon quit.
Ms Forbes was the main contender against Mr Yousaf in last year’s hotly contested SNP leadership race.
She did not join his government and instead went to the backbenches, where she was occasionally critical of her party’s policies.
Junior ministers have also been appointed, with Ms Robison’s fellow Dundee MSP Joe FitzPatrick leaving government after a spell as local government minister.
Other sackings include Emma Roddick as equalities minister and George Adam.
There will be no minister for independence, a role created by Humza Yousaf, with Jamie Hepburn set to replace Mr Adam as minister for parliamentary business.
Continuity prevails
Aside from bringing Ms Forbes back into government, Mr Swinney made no major changes to the top team his predecessor had put in place.
That means Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP Jenny Gilruth will remain in place as her party’s education chief, while Dunfermline MSP Shirley Anne-Somerville keeps the social justice post.
Angus MSP Mairi Gougeon will also stay on as the government’s rural affairs secretary.
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