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John Swinney has revealed a streamlined Scottish cabinet following his reappointment as Scotland’s first minister. The new team features a reduced number of cabinet members, reflecting Swinney’s intention to improve government efficiency and achieve savings. This restructuring was made possible after five cabinet secretaries left at the recent election, enabling the first minister to shrink the cabinet from 12 to nine members.
Jenny Gilruth, who formerly served as education secretary, has been promoted to deputy first minister as well as finance secretary. Gilruth, previously a modern studies teacher and married to former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, described the appointment as the greatest honour of her life. Alongside her, veteran ministers Mairi McAllan, Angela Constance, Neil Gray, Shirley-Anne Somerville, and Gillian Martin retained their places in the cabinet.
Two newcomers have joined the senior team: Stephen Flynn, the former SNP Westminster leader, and Ivan McKee, previously a junior minister. Flynn, who was only recently elected to Holyrood, assumed the Economy, Transport, and Tourism portfolio and is regarded as a potential future SNP leader. Meanwhile, McKee, a former businessman, takes on the role of Public Service Reform Secretary, a post critical to the government’s plans for significant savings.
Several portfolio changes were also made within the cabinet. Neil Gray and Angela Constance swapped their previous roles, with Gray moving to Justice and Constance taking over Health and Care. Mairi McAllan was given the Education, Culture, and Gaelic brief, incorporating culture duties previously overseen by Swinney, who has now taken over responsibility for the constitution. Shirley-Anne Somerville expanded her remit to include housing alongside social justice, and Gillian Martin will continue as Climate Action Secretary while adding rural affairs to her responsibilities.
Swinney described the formation as a “leaner, more agile government,” emphasizing the experience and drive of his ministers. He expressed confidence that the cabinet would focus on key priorities such as the cost of living, economic growth, NHS improvements, child poverty reduction, and public sector reforms. Highlighting the strengths of his team, Swinney praised Gilruth’s “strength, capability and political intelligence” and commended Flynn’s “excellent leadership.”
The changes come as several former cabinet members, including Kate Forbes, Shona Robison, Fiona Hyslop, and Mairi Gougeon, stepped down, while Angus Robertson lost his seat. Along with them, four junior ministers also left Holyrood, contributing to the cabinet downsizing. The reduction in cabinet roles is expected to save taxpayers around £175,000 annually in salary costs. Before officially taking office, Swinney was sworn in at a ceremony in the Court of Session, where he took the oath of office, pledged allegiance to the King, and was made Keeper of the Scottish Seal. Reflecting on the occasion, he acknowledged the gravity and solemnity of the role
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