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Scottish First Minister John Swinney unveils cabinet as Kate Forbes
becomes deputy
(HTM) Source
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New Scottish First Minister John Swinney has unveiled his cabinet -
with Kate Forbes taking the top role of deputy.
Mr Swinney was legally **sworn in as Scotland's seventh first
minister** at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday.
Mr Swinney pledged that Ms Forbes - who chose not to run in the **SNP
leadership race** \- would play a "significant part" in his
government.
Ms Forbes, who served as finance secretary under Nicola Sturgeon, has
replaced Shona Robison as second in command.
Ms Robison remains in the Scottish government's cabinet, with the new
first minister revealing a largely unchanged line-up.
**Mr Swinney's cabinet - with a majority of women - is as follows:**
• Kate Forbes, the youngest-ever deputy first minister, will take on
the economy portfolio and responsibility for Gaelic.
• Shona Robison 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
and energy.
• Fiona Hyslop remains cabinet secretary for transport.
• 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, external
affairs and culture.
• Mairi Gougeon remains cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land
reform and islands.
In his ministerial team, Mr Swinney appears to have dropped the post
of minister for independence.
The role, the first of its kind, was created by Humza Yousaf last
year. Jamie Hepburn, who held the post, takes over from George Adam as
minister for parliamentary business.
**Ministers:**
• Jamie Hepburn, minister for parliamentary business.
• Richard Lochhead, minister for business.
• Tom Arthur, minister for employment and investment.
• Ivan McKee, minister for public finance.
• Natalie Don, minister for children, young people and The Promise.
• Graeme Dey, minister for higher and further education.
• Siobhian Brown, minister for victims and community safety.
• Gillian Martin, minister for climate action.
• Jim Fairlie, minister for agriculture and connectivity.
• Jenni Minto, minister for public health and women's health.
• Maree Todd, minister for social care, mental wellbeing and sport.
• Christina McKelvie, minister for drugs and alcohol policy.
• Kaukab Stewart, minister for equalities.
• Paul McLennan, minister for housing.
Image: The Scottish cabinet. Pic: SPICe/Scottish parliament
Image: John Swinney has been sworn in as Scotland's first minister.
Pic: PA
The first minister said he has selected a team that "blends experience
and energy".
He added: "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.
"A strong economy supports the delivery of services on which people
depend - health, education, housing, and transport - and so each of
these areas are aligned to distinct roles in my cabinet, with a focus
on ensuring people see their lives improve as a result of the actions
of their Scottish government.
"I believe that Scotland's future is best served as an independent
country - but I recognise more people need to be convinced of that
before independence can be achieved.
"My cabinet will also focus 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."
Image: Mr Swinney after being sworn in as first minister. Pic: PA
The Scottish government said Mr Swinney spoke with Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak and confirmed that Holyrood "stands ready to work
constructively with the UK government in a good-faith effort to
deliver for the people of Scotland and reduce polarisation in
politics".
**Read more:
Who is John Swinney?**
Mr Swinney said he was pleased to appoint Ms Forbes as his deputy,
describing her as an "immensely talented politician".
Image: Ms Forbes and Mr Swinney speaking to journalists outside Bute
House on Wednesday. Pic: PA
Ms Forbes, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch, 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."
Image: Kate Forbes arriving at Bute House. Pic: PA
Ms Forbes **faced a backlash** over her religious beliefs during her
leadership campaign to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.
She went on to narrowly lose 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 who **did not
delete her WhatsApp messages** during the COVID pandemic.
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Image: Mr Swinney with wife Elizabeth and son Matthew. Pic: PA
Craig Hoy, chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, said Mr Swinney's
team "is simply Humza Yousaf's cabinet with a different figurehead".
He added: "This uninspiring cabinet is further evidence that John
Swinney as first minister will just mean more of the same.
"His fingerprints are all over the failed SNP policies that have
damaged Scotland, while he's already doubled down on the SNP's
independence obsession, instead of 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
feuding, failing, distracted SNP and get the focus back on the issues
that matter - and, in key seats across Scotland, it's only the
Scottish Conservatives who can beat them."
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