Tayside has “a very strong voice” round the new-look Scottish Government cabinet table, according to the Deputy First Minister.
Perth and North Perthshire MSP John Swinney, who also retained his finance portfolio, told The Courier he was “thrilled” to be placed second in charge of the country.
Nicola Sturgeon’s first reshuffle also saw Dundee East MSP Shona Robison promoted to Health Secretary and Perthshire South and Kinross-shire representative Roseanna Cunningham brought in as Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training.
There were few major shocks at who left, with Kenny MacAskill departing from justice after a series of controversies and Mike Russell leaving the education brief behind.
More surprising was Falkirk West MSP Michael Matheson’s promotion to Justice Secretary, while Angela Constance will be in charge of education.
Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown was promoted to Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Secretary but also retains his responsibility for veterans.
Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick will retain his role as minister for parliamentary business in a shake-up of the junior ministerial positions.
Mr Swinney said: “At many times in my life I could scarcely have imagined I would have held this office and will therefore hold it with great care, great pride and do all I can every day to serve the people of Scotland.”
He added: “We now have a new team with a mixture of experienced people changing jobs and promotions.
“There is also a very strong voice for Tayside and the North East given the Deputy First Minister and two cabinet secretaries are from the Tayside area.”
Ms Robison’s promotion marks the end of a successful week for the Dundee East representatives after her husband, MP Stewart Hosie, was elected as SNP deputy leader at the party’s conference in Perth.
She said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been given such a hugely important role. It’s an area I know well having been minister for public health and I’m looking forward to getting on with the job.”
The new cabinet is split 50/50 between men and women and Ms Sturgeon had made clear she was taking the opportunity to make progress on equal representation for women.
Also promoted from the back bench was Annabelle Ewing, who has become minister for youth and women’s employment.
The First Minister also insisted Mr Russell and Mr MacAskill had indicated they wanted to step down from their ministerial roles.
Asked whether Mr MacAskill’s departure was an acknowledgement that the Government had got things wrong on justice, she replied: “He has significant achievements to his name and he should be very proud of that.”
Scottish Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: “I look forward to them supporting Labour’s policies to tackle the many problems that their predecessors have left for them.”
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said Kenny MacAskill and Mike Russell’s “time was up long before this reshuffle.”