First Minister appoints Cabinet ‘to deliver for Scotland’

FM: “Government will be focused on people’s priorities.”

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney has appointed his new Cabinet, unveiling a streamlined team of Cabinet Secretaries to deliver on the things that matter most to the people of Scotland.

Comprising eight Cabinet Secretaries, including the Deputy First Minister, the First Minister has said his Cabinet will focus on the priorities of the people, including supporting people through the cost of living crisis, ensuring easier access to the NHS and delivering a fresh start with independence.

The focused and streamlined Cabinet will include the first ever Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, who will lead cross-government work to ensure public services are responsive to the needs of the people of Scotland.

Responsibility for independence and the constitution will now sit directly with the First Minister.

The Cabinet, which is made up of a majority of women, consists of:

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Jenny Gilruth
Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform Ivan McKee
Cabinet Secretary for Justice Neil Gray
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care Angela Constance
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Gillian Martin
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing Shirley-Anne Somerville
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn

First Minister John Swinney 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.”

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

Scottish Ministers appointed

First Minister John Swinney has also appointed Scottish Ministers, following the completion of a new Cabinet.

The Scottish Government now consists of eight Cabinet Secretaries, including the Deputy First Minister, and eleven Ministers.

Seven new Ministers have joined the Scottish Government, including six who enter government for the first time. This includes Stephen Flynn, Stephen Gethins, Hannah Mary Goodlad, Kirsten Oswald, Alison Thewliss and Simita Kumar.

Newly appointed Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy Stephen Gethins will report directly to the First Minister. The First Minister will hold direct responsibility for independence and the constitution.

Newly appointed Public Finance Minister Hannah Mary Goodlad will support both the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, and the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform.

The full Scottish Government ministerial team consists of:

First Minister, John Swinney

Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Energy, Stephen Gethins

Minister for Parliamentary Business & Veterans, Jamie Hepburn

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, Jenny Gilruth

Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad (reporting jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform)

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, Ivan McKee

Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad (reporting jointly to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government)