logo
John Swinney announces new Scottish Cabinet ministers

John Swinney announces new Scottish Cabinet ministers

The Nationala day ago

With a largely unchanged team, the "minimalist" reshuffle comes after the SNP's loss to Labour in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election.
Despite the by-election loss and internal splits, the party continues to lead in the polls ahead of next year's election, with Swinney saying the Government must 'deliver on the priorities of the people of Scotland'.
Future leadership contenders such as Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and McAllan were seen entering Bute House on Tuesday morning.
McAllan has returned from maternity leave, and a new Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister has been appointed following the death of Christina McKelvie.
Paul McLennan has left government as his ministerial role is developed into a cabinet role, and Alasdair Allan will leave his post at end of this week after assuming the temporary role of climate action.
See the full Cabinet here:
Here is the full list of who holds which Cabinet position in the new SNP minority government:
Kate Forbes, the youngest-ever Deputy First Minister, will remain with 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
Gillian Martin remains in Cabinet with responsibility for Net Zero and Energy portfolio
Fiona Hyslop remains Cabinet Secretary for Transport
Mairi McAllan returns in a new role, Cabinet Secretary for Housing
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
The changes mean the Scottish Cabinet now consists of twelve MSPs, including the First Minister, the majority of whom are women.
Further changes mean the ministerial team reduces to eleven, from fourteen.
Here's the full list of junior ministers in the SNP minority government:
Minister for Parliamentary Business – Jamie Hepburn
Minister for Business and Employment – Richard Lochhead
Minister for Public Finance – Ivan McKee
Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise – Natalie Don
Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans – Graeme Dey
Minister for Victims and Community Safety – Siobhian Brown
Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity – Jim Fairlie
Minister for Public Health and Women's Health – Jenni Minto
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport – Tom Arthur
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy – Maree Todd
Minister for Equalities – Kaukab Stewart
Arthur was previously minister for employment and investment. His investment responsibilities will be assumed by Forbes, while Lochhead's extended responsibilities see him become Minister for Business and Employment.
The reshuffle comes amid discontent within the party which was sparked by the party's underwhelming by-election result in Hamilton last week. A reported meeting of 25 senior SNP figures took place on Monday night where the removal of Swinney as party leader was discussed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences
Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences

Powys County Times

time31 minutes ago

  • Powys County Times

Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is set to call for an end to the windfall tax on oil and gas companies and the ban on new licences. The energy profits levy was put in place under the previous Conservative government but extended when Labour entered power. Designed to fund interventions to bring down household bills, the policy has been criticised by those in the industry. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh on Friday, Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. She will add: 'When the oil and gas windfall tax, the energy profits levy, was brought in, the oil price was near a historic high, at the exact time as energy bills for the British people were sky-rocketing. 'But there is no longer a windfall to tax. It has long gone. And the longer this regressive tax on one of our most successful industries remains, the more damaging it becomes. 'Labour have extended and increased this tax. They are killing this industry.' If the measure remains in place to 2030 as intended, Mrs Badenoch will say 'there will be no industry left to tax'. She will add: 'So, today, I say enough. Labour must remove the energy profits levy. Labour must speed up the process of replacing it with a system that rewards success and incentivises investment. 'Because we shouldn't have this energy profits levy at all. 'We must scrap the ban on new licences. 'We must overturn the ban on supporting oil and gas technology exports. 'And we must champion our own industry. 'We must let this great British, great Scottish industry thrive, grow and create jobs – ensuring our energy security for generations to come, driving growth and making this country richer in the process.' Mrs Badenoch will address her first Scottish party conference as leader on Friday while her counterpart north of the border Russell Findlay will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday. Responding to Mrs Badenoch, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said her comments were 'out of touch', adding: 'Even with the windfall tax in place, the energy industry made over £115 billion in profits in 2024 alone. 'Meanwhile, average household energy bills remain hundreds and hundreds of pounds higher than they were before the energy crisis started. 'While the Government is right to be consulting on reform of the windfall tax, maintaining a profits levy could help fund home upgrades and a social tariff which would bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable in society.' SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'The Tories wrecked our economy, presided over soaring household bills and ripped Scotland from the EU against our will. 'And now they're lurching further to the right as they haemorrhage votes to Nigel Farage. 'This weekend will be an important reminder of how Westminster has failed Scotland. Only the SNP is offering hope and a brighter future as an independent nation.' Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'While the Tories and SNP let energy workers down by failing to plan for the future, Scottish Labour is committed to taking action towards reaching net zero, creating jobs and cutting energy bills. 'The Tories are on the side of oil and gas giants rather than working Scots, but Scottish Labour will work with the UK Government and use devolved powers to deliver a just transition for the industry. 'With Kemi Badenoch desperately attempting to rally the few remaining Scottish Tories, it seems like it won't be long until they can fit all of their MSPs in a single taxi.'

John Swinney rejects Donald Trump's calls for more oil drilling
John Swinney rejects Donald Trump's calls for more oil drilling

The Herald Scotland

time40 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

John Swinney rejects Donald Trump's calls for more oil drilling

Mr Swinney stressed the need to 'recognise the realities of climate change' and carry out a 'just transition' to net zero. The First Minister said: 'I do not think it's a surprise that Donald Trump believes and says what he says about energy issues. 'I think we're all quite familiar with his line of argument – but from the Scottish Government's point of view, we've given a commitment to get to net zero, and we're going to see that commitment through.' Read More Donald Trump calls for more North Sea oil drilling with Aberdeen 'the hub' The First Minister added: 'The need to take climate action is absolutely central to what all governments have got to do, and the Scottish Government is absolutely committed to that journey.' He said the 'shift' from fossil fuels to renewable energy needed to take place in a 'managed way', and that there are 'huge opportunities' in Scotland for renewable energy. 'That's exactly the approach that we'll take, and we're now achieving great success in the rolling-out of renewable technologies in Scotland,' he said. The Scottish Government has committed to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2045, something the Conservatives described on Friday as a 'pipe dream' due to what they said was the 'snail's pace' of change. The Tories said that based on current projections it could take until 2080 for the country to achieve net zero status, and that there would be 'eye-watering' costs if the target is to be achieved. Mr Swinney rejected this characterisation, insisting: 'What my government will do is what we always do, which is we'll look at the evidence, we'll take the practical steps, and we'll deliver on our commitments, and that's what we do.' He also pointed out that the Conservatives had previously supported the 2045 target in the Scottish Parliament.

Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences
Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences

North Wales Chronicle

timean hour ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Badenoch to call for end to oil and gas windfall tax and ban on new licences

The energy profits levy was put in place under the previous Conservative government but extended when Labour entered power. Designed to fund interventions to bring down household bills, the policy has been criticised by those in the industry. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Edinburgh on Friday, Mrs Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. She will add: 'When the oil and gas windfall tax, the energy profits levy, was brought in, the oil price was near a historic high, at the exact time as energy bills for the British people were sky-rocketing. 'But there is no longer a windfall to tax. It has long gone. And the longer this regressive tax on one of our most successful industries remains, the more damaging it becomes. 'Labour have extended and increased this tax. They are killing this industry.' If the measure remains in place to 2030 as intended, Mrs Badenoch will say 'there will be no industry left to tax'. She will add: 'So, today, I say enough. Labour must remove the energy profits levy. Labour must speed up the process of replacing it with a system that rewards success and incentivises investment. 'Because we shouldn't have this energy profits levy at all. 'We must scrap the ban on new licences. 'We must overturn the ban on supporting oil and gas technology exports. 'And we must champion our own industry. 'We must let this great British, great Scottish industry thrive, grow and create jobs – ensuring our energy security for generations to come, driving growth and making this country richer in the process.' Mrs Badenoch will address her first Scottish party conference as leader on Friday while her counterpart north of the border Russell Findlay will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday. Responding to Mrs Badenoch, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said her comments were 'out of touch', adding: 'Even with the windfall tax in place, the energy industry made over £115 billion in profits in 2024 alone. 'Meanwhile, average household energy bills remain hundreds and hundreds of pounds higher than they were before the energy crisis started. 'While the Government is right to be consulting on reform of the windfall tax, maintaining a profits levy could help fund home upgrades and a social tariff which would bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable in society.' SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'The Tories wrecked our economy, presided over soaring household bills and ripped Scotland from the EU against our will. 'And now they're lurching further to the right as they haemorrhage votes to Nigel Farage. 'This weekend will be an important reminder of how Westminster has failed Scotland. Only the SNP is offering hope and a brighter future as an independent nation.' Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'While the Tories and SNP let energy workers down by failing to plan for the future, Scottish Labour is committed to taking action towards reaching net zero, creating jobs and cutting energy bills. 'The Tories are on the side of oil and gas giants rather than working Scots, but Scottish Labour will work with the UK Government and use devolved powers to deliver a just transition for the industry. 'With Kemi Badenoch desperately attempting to rally the few remaining Scottish Tories, it seems like it won't be long until they can fit all of their MSPs in a single taxi.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store