John Swinney unveils slimmed-down Scottish Government Cabinet

John Swinney has unveiled his new slimmed-down Scottish Government Cabinet.

After being sworn in, the First Minister’s first task was filling gaps in his Government left by the retirement of a number of key ministers, including deputy Kate Forbes and finance secretary Shona Robison.

Culture secretary Angus Robertson lost his seat in Edinburgh to the Scottish Greens so also needed to be replaced.

The new Cabinet of nine, including the First Minister, is down from twelve before the election.

Jenny Gilruth has been appointed Scotland’s deputy first minister and will also take on the finance and local government briefs.

Ivan McKee is the minister for Public Service Reform.

Neil Gray and Angela Constance remain in Cabinet but have swapped their roles. Gray takes on justice while Constance is now in charge of health and care.

Gillian Martin has been reappointed cabinet secretary for Climate Action and will also take over the rural affairs brief.

Mairi McAllan is Scotland’s education minister, as well as culture and Gaelic.

Shirley-Anne Somerville is the new cabinet secretary for Social Justice and Housing.

The SNP’s former Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, is now economy, tourism and transport minister.

The First Minister said: “I am immensely proud to appoint this Cabinet with the experience, energy and drive to deliver on the mandate given to us by the people of Scotland. This will be a Scottish Government working for Scotland.

“As a leaner, more agile government, our full focus will be on delivering on the things that matter most to the people of Scotland, including supporting people with the cost of living crisis, ensuring easier access to the NHS and delivering a fresh start with independence.

“This new team will hit the ground running, delivering major progress on our priorities within the first 100 days, before continuing to deliver on the emphatic mandate given to us by the people of Scotland.

“This team of Cabinet Secretaries will bring experience, drive and a determination to deliver for Scotland – and this government will work harder than ever to repay the trust that people have placed in us.”

It comes after the First Minister was sworn into the role for a second time on Wednesday morning.

He left the Court of Session just after 10am, flanked by his wife Elizabeth and teenage son Matthew.

Speaking after the ceremony, Swinney said he would be a “First Minister for all of Scotland”.

He said: “It’s a very moving ceremony to take part in at the Court of Session, to be appointed by the court as the First Minister of Scotland.

“It is a ceremony that connects the office I hold to the very origins of the Scottish state, so it’s a deeply precious moment for me, and a reminder of the significant responsibilities that I carry as First Minister, which I faithfully carry out on behalf of the people of our country.”

He said his top priorities are to tackle the cost of living, improve the NHS and “give the people of Scotland the opportunity to decide on their own constitutional future”.

He added: “I pledged to be a First Minister that would serve all the people of Scotland, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

The SNP leader was elected as First Minister for the second time in Holyrood on Tuesday after his party won 58 seats at this month’s election.

He told MSPs he is “determined to get on with the job” in Holyrood, as he shook the hands of fellow party leaders following a series of votes, despite no other candidate looking likely to win the backing of a majority of MSPs.