John Swinney has been appointed Deputy First Minister in Nicola Sturgeon’s first cabinet reshuffle.
There is good news for another Courier country MSP as Dundee East member Shona Robison is promoted to Health Secretary.
Ms Sturgeon’s first move was to make Mr Swinney, the trusted and well respected Perth and North Perthshire MSP, her number two at Holyrood.
Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie was voted in as the party’s depute leader last weekend but, as his seat is for Westminster, he cannot be DFM.
Delighted to announce that @johnswinney is the new Deputy First Minister of @scotgov #reshuffle pic.twitter.com/b31suC4HAL
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) November 21, 2014
Mr Swinney, who retains his brief as finance secretary, said: “It is the greatest privilege for me to be appointed Deputy First Minister of Scotland. I will do all I can to serve my country.”
It is the greatest privilege for me to be appointed Deputy First Minister of Scotland. I will do all I can to serve my country. #reshuffle
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) November 21, 2014
The new-look Scottish Government is split 50/50 down gender lines and Perthshire South and Kinross-shire representative Roseanna Cunningham has also been drafted in as secretary for fair work, skills and training.
Michael Matheson and Keith Brown have been promoted to the cabinet, while Kenny MacAskill and Mike Russell have been sacked as justice and education secretaries.The full cabinet:First Minister: Nicola Sturgeon Deputy First Minister/Finance Secretary: John Swinney Health Secretary: Shona Robison Education Secretary: Angela Constance Justice Secretary: Michael Matheson Infrastructure Secretary: Keith Brown Rural Affairs Secretary: Richard Lochhead Culture Secretary: Fiona Hyslop Social Justice Secretary: Alex Neil Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training: Roseanna Cunningham