Scottish First Minister John Swinney unveils cabinet as Kate Forbes becomes MP | UK News

First Minister John Swinney promised that Kate Forbes, who decided not to stand in the SNP leadership race, would play an “important role” in his government.

Scotland’s new first minister, John Swinney, has unveiled his cabinet, with Kate Forbes taking the top MP role.

Mr. Swinney was legally sworn in as Scotland’s seventh first minister at Edinburgh Sessions Court on Wednesday morning.

Mr. Swinney promised that Ms. Forbes – who decided not to run SNP leadership race – would play an “important role” in his government.

Ms Forbes, who served as finance secretary during Nicola Sturgeon’s government, replaced Shona Robison as second-in-command.

Robison remains in the cabinet and the new prime minister reveals a virtually unchanged composition.

Mr Swinney’s 11-member cabinet, with a majority of women, is as follows:
• Kate Forbes, the youngest Deputy Prime Minister in history, will take on the Economy portfolio and responsibility for Gaelic.
• Shona Robinson remains in cabinet with responsibility for finance and local government.
• Jenny Gilruth remains cabinet secretary for education and skills.
• Angela Constance remains Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs.
• Mairi McAllan remains in cabinet with responsibility for net zero emissions and energy.
• Fiona Hyslop remains Transport Cabinet Secretary.
• Neil Gray remains cabinet secretary for health and social care.
• Shirley-Anne Somerville remains cabinet secretary for social justice.
• Angus Robertson remains Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Foreign Affairs and Culture.
• Mairi Gougeon remains cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands.

The prime minister said he has chosen a cabinet team that “combines experience and energy.”

He added: “My top priority will be working to eradicate child poverty in Scotland, an issue where real progress has been made through measures such as the Scottish Child Payment.

“The government I lead will maximize every lever at our disposal to address the scourge of poverty in our country.

“A strong economy supports the delivery of services people depend on – health, education, housing and transport – and that is why each of these areas is aligned with distinct roles in my cabinet, with a focus on ensuring people see that their lives improve as a whole. result of the Scottish Government’s actions against him.

“I believe Scotland’s future is best achieved as an independent country, but I recognize that more people need to be convinced of this before independence can be achieved.

“My cabinet will also focus its efforts on reaching out to those who remain unconvinced, with respect and courtesy, to ensure that the people of Scotland have the democratic right to choose their own future.”

Read more:
Who is John Swinney?

Swinney said he was delighted to appoint Forbes as his deputy and described her as an “immensely talented politician”.

Ms Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: “I am deeply honored 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 all ministers have to reflect the government’s priorities and the missions that drive them.

“I look forward to working with John and his cabinet colleagues, delivering for the people of Scotland and building a better country.”

Mrs. Forbes faced backlash about his religious beliefs during his leadership campaign to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.

He then narrowly lost to Mr. Yousaf.

Although her views on social issues remain unpopular with some of her MSP colleagues, she was one of the few SNP ministers to He did not delete his WhatsApp messages during the COVID pandemic.

Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said Swinney’s team “is simply Humza Yousaf’s cabinet with a different figure”.

He added: “This uninspiring cabinet is further proof that John Swinney as Prime Minister will mean more of the same.

“His fingerprints are on all the failed SNP policies that have damaged Scotland, while he has already doubled down on the SNP’s independence obsession, rather than focusing on the public’s real priorities, such as fixing our ailing public services and growing the economy.

“When the election comes, voters will have the chance to punish the embattled, failed and distracted SNP and refocus on the issues that matter – and, in key seats across Scotland, only the Scottish Conservatives can beat them.”