Dundee’s Deputy First Minister Shona Robison has been given a second job as finance chief in Humza Yousaf’s new-look Scottish Government.
He handed out the big job the day after former finance chief Kate Forbes, who narrowly lost the SNP leader contest, snubbed a role in the cabinet.
Fife’s Jenny Gilruth, a former teacher, has been promoted to education secretary.
Mr Yousaf also appointed junior ministers, which means a return for Dundee’s Joe FitzPatrick in a local government brief. He quit as public health minister in 2020 after a backlash at the failure to address scandalous drug death figures in the city and beyond.
Angus South MSP Graeme Dey had quit as transport minister in 2022 for health reasons. He now returns as a junior minister for higher and further education, as well as for veterans.
The new SNP leader unveiled his top team two days after he won the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.
Outgoing energy secretary Michael Matheson is the new health secretary as he replaces Mr Yousaf, who faced criticism and demands to quit over record A&E waiting times.
Angus MSP Mairi Gougeon remains as rural affairs secretary.
Ex education boss and Fife MSP Shirley Anne-Somerville will replace double-jobbing Dundee deputy Ms Robison in heading up the social justice brief.
New schools chief Ms Gilruth previously worked as a principal teacher in Dunfermline before she became the Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP in 2016.
Before taking on her current role, she served as her party’s transport minister.
Neil Gray was one of the new first minister’s earliest supporters and has been rewarded with a major post in charge of the economy, wellbeing and energy.
Meanwhile, rising star Màiri McAllan will serve as net zero secretary and ex-drugs minister Angela Constance is the party’s now justice chief in place of Keith Brown.
Ms McAllan, aged 30, will be the youngest member of Mr Yousaf’s cabinet and will have a huge job on her hands as the SNP continues to shift away from oil and gas.
She previously served as the party’s environment and land reform minister after first being elected as an MSP in 2021.
Angus Robertson – who was tipped as an early contender for leader before backing Mr Yousaf – is the only cabinet member to remain in his current job as culture secretary.
Ms Sturgeon’s former deputy John Swinney announced before the leadership election finished he was leaving government.
Mr Yousaf said: “The cabinet team I have unveiled reflects the priorities that we will pursue as a government – including tackling child poverty, improving public services and building a fairer, greener economy.”
Who is on the move?
IN
- Angela Constance
- Jenny Gilruth
- Neil Gray
- Màiri McAllan
OUT
- Keith Brown
- Kate Forbes
- John Swinney
Mr Yousaf’s new top table is filled with allies who backed him to replace Ms Sturgeon, while those who aligned with rival Ms Forbes have been frozen out.
Splits within the SNP remained evident on Tuesday when Ms Forbes turned down Mr Yousaf’s offer to take on the rural affairs brief after her defeat.
Ivan McKee, who backed Ms Forbes early on, has reportedly quit his role as business minister after he was offered a post viewed as a demotion.
The SNP’s agreement to share power with the Scottish Greens will continue after Mr Yousaf’s victory. Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater retain their ministerial roles.
Conversation