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Cabinet re-shuffle live: Humza Yousaf appoints his top team

Cabinet re-shuffle live: Humza Yousaf appoints his top team

Welcome to Holyrood's re-shuffle blog. Updates will appear here during the day

20:49 The full Cabinet of 10 Cabinet Secretaries and 18 junior ministers has now been confirmed.

First Minister Humza Yousaf

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy Elena Whitham

Minister for Independence Jamie Hepburn

Minister for Cabinet and Parliamentary Business George Adam

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance Shona Robison

Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance Tom Arthur

Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning Joe FitzPatrick

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care Michael Matheson

Minister for Public Health and Women's Health Jenni Minto

Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport Maree Todd

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth

Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise Natalie Don

Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans Graeme Dey

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition Màiri McAllan

Minister for Transport Kevin Stewart

Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Neil Gray

Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Richard Lochhead

Minister for Energy Gillian Martin

Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (who will also work alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition) Lorna Slater

Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights (who will also work alongside the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice) Patrick Harvie

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon

Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson

Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development Christina McKelvie

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville

Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees Emma Roddick

Minister for Housing Paul McLennan

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance

Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown

 


14:38 Full Cabinet Reveal

  • Humza Yousaf, First Minister
  • Shona Robison, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance
  • Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care
  • Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
  • Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition
  • Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
  • Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
  • Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
  • Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
  • Angela Constance, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs

On appointing his top team, the First Minister 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.

“Ahead of my appointment as First Minister, I have committed myself to a radical, ambitious and progressive policy agenda for Scotland – and I know that this team is the right one to deliver it."

According to the BBC's Phil Sim, the announcement of junior ministers will come later today. 

14:14 Deputy First Minister Shona Robison has now gone in.

She is thought to be taking on the portfolio for finance.

No sign of Keith Brown - current justice secretary and depute leader of the SNP.

13:58 Keeping an eye on that gender ratio...

13:52 Mairi McAllan - who was sat immediately behind Yousaf yesterday - has now gone into Bute House.

McAllan became a minister immediately after her election in 2021.

No news on Keith Brown.

13:26 It's looking like a promotion for Jenny Gilruth.

She entered government as culture minister in 2020 and became transport minister in 2022 after Graeme Dey stepped aside.

Now, as she goes in to see the First Minister, she could be about to enter Cabinet.

13:07 Angus Robertson has just gone into Bute House.

While a long-standing MP, Robertson only became an MSP last year - but was instantly put into Nicola Sturgeon's Cabinet as constitution secretary.

No word as he entered on what job he'll have now.

12:55 Musings on who could be given what role... STV's Colin Mackay says Shona Robison could be taking on finance (as well as DFM)

And Holyrood editor Mandy Rhodes wonders if there could be a splitting up of economy and finance to create a new 'wellbeing economy' focus.

12:34 Something from earlier...

12:22 Angela Constance is now in Bute House.

While not a cabinet secretary, in her role as drugs policy minister she previously reported directly to Nicola Sturgeon (rather than sitting under a cab sec).

She was tight-lipped as she walked into the building.

12:09 Mairi Gougeon has arrived.

For those not keeping count, that is four people who have entered Bute House.

So far, so gender balanced.

11:44 Neil Gray has entered Bute House.

Gray was Humza Yousaf's campaign manager, so a promotion is no surprise. He became a government minister last year - and was on the SNP frontbench in Westminster before that.

He also won the Holyrood One To Watch Award last year. So... called it. Read a recent interview with him here.

11:06 First in... Shirley-Anne Somerville.

Currently education secretary, she was sitting immediately to Yousaf's left yesterday as he was nominated as FM yesterday.

She was followed by Michael Matheson.

10:45 First Minister Humza Yousaf has arrived back at Bute House after being officially sworn in at the Court of Session.

Not long to wait now.

9:24 Ivan McKee is out. Rumours started circulating yesterday that Forbes' first campaign manager would not be kept on as minister. That has now been confirmed.

 

9:12 We already know one person who won't be serving in the new Cabinet: Kate Forbes. The former leadership candidate is understood to have been offered the rural affairs brief, but turned it down and will return to the backbenches. 


9:03 Good morning from Holyrood. We're expecting the some ministerial announcements later once Humza Yousaf has been sworn in as Scotland's new first minister at the Court of Session. 

We already know that Shona Robison, a former health secretary and the member of the Cabinet responsible for taking the controversial Gender Recognition Reform bill through parliament, will be the next deputy first minister, replacing John Swinney. 

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