Getty ImagesGraeme Day has been announced as the new parliamentary minister following the resignation of Jamie Hepburn, who quit amid allegations he assaulted Douglas Ross.
Meanwhile Ben Macpherson will return to government as higher and further education secretary, taking up the post vacated by Dey.
Hepburn quit on Friday after Ross accused him of “physically grabbing” him, raising his voice, and using “foul and abusive language” inside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Hepburn admitted he used language he shouldn’t have but downplayed the incident, saying he did not grab Ross and instead placed his hand on his shoulder.
In his resignation letter to the First Minister, Hepburn said he had been “reflecting on the incident” and concluded that he wanted to offer his resignation.
He added that it was a “source of regret” that his 11 years as a minister had ended because of the incident with Ross.
On Sunday, Swinney said he was “delighted” to announce the two appointments.
“Graeme Dey brings wide experience of handling parliamentary business to this role and is a minister widely respected across the Parliamentary chamber for his open and constructive approach to finding common ground,” he said.
“Ben Macpherson has wider experience across a range of policy areas and will bring a creative and dynamic leadership to higher and further education that is so fundamental to transforming the lives of individuals across the country, and to supporting this government’s ambitious economic agenda.”
Dey’s appointment sees him returning to the ministerial role he held from 2018 to 2021.
The Angus South MSP then became transport secretary, before being appointed higher and further education secretary and minister for veterans in 2023.
Macpherson held a number of ministerial posts between 2018 and March 2023, when he left government after declining to serve under Humza Yousaf.
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