Welcome to The Courier’s morning politics briefing, it’s everything you need to know about politics in your region, and across the country, before you start your day.
New this morning:
- We asked four MSPs to keep a diary of their first week in their new job, to give a behind-the-scenes look at the process of becoming an elected representative.
- John Swinney has been moved on from his role as education secretary but will remain as deputy first minister as part of Nicola Sturgeon’s post-election Cabinet reshuffle.
- Nicola Sturgeon said she would “never shy away from tough choices” as she was officially re-elected as first minister.
- Child poverty has risen in every Scottish council area since 2015, even before the impact of the pandemic is considered, campaigners have warned.
- The coronavirus pandemic could be the “wake up call that we need” to tackle Scotland’s obesity problem, a body that advises the Holyrood ministers has insisted.
Coming up today:
- Nicola Sturgeon’s is expected to name the MSPs who will join her top team in a post-election reshuffle of Cabinet and ministerial posts.
- Boris Johnson will face prime minister’s questions at Westminster.
In case you missed it:
- Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is self-isolating after a member of his household tested positive for coronavirus.
- We spoke to Inverness-born MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, who made history this month when she was elected to serve as Holyrood’s first permanent wheelchair user.
- Boris Johnson’s top civil servant has said the preservation of the Union is now “at the forefront of policymaking in Whitehall”.
- The Scottish Parliament’s newly elected presiding officer for the next five years, Alison Johnstone, has put the climate emergency at the top of Holyrood’s agenda.