Summary

  • New Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf gives his deputy Shona Robison the job of Finance Secretary - the post which had been held by his leadership rival Kate Forbes

  • Key appointees in the cabinet of three men and six women include Michael Matheson at health; Jenny Gilruth at education and Angela Constance taking on justice and home affairs

  • Yousaf said: "I have committed myself to a radical, ambitious and progressive policy agenda for Scotland – and I know that this team is the right one to deliver it."

  • Forbes finished second in the SNP leadership race and rejected the rural portfolio which she had been offered

  • Keith Brown who was justice secretary is gone and Angus Robertson retains his constitution and culture brief

  • Opposition parties say that the line-up is "more of the same" with a continued obsession with independence

  • Earlier, Yousaf was formally sworn in as Scotland's first minister at the Court of Session in Edinburgh ahead of turning to the task of choosing his cabinet

  1. The new Scottish government is named, as we end today's live page coveragepublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    We now know who has got a job in Humza Yousaf's first cabinet

    Five members are under 40 years old and - for the first time ever - the majority are women.

    Here are the headlines:

    • Shona Robison is to replace Kate Forbes as Scotland's finance secretary
    • Humza Yousaf said Robison would be given the finance brief as well as serving as his deputy first minister
    • Other key appointments include Michael Matheson taking over from Yousaf as health secretary
    • Neil Gray also joins the cabinet after being given responsibility for the wellbeing economy, fair work and energy briefs
    cabinetImage source, PA Media
    • Another cabinet newcomer, Mairi McAllan, will be the net zero and just transition secretary at the age of just 30
    • Former transport minister Jenny Gilruth will join the full cabinet for the first time as education secretary
    • The SNP's deputy leader, Keith Brown, has been replaced by Angela Constance as the country's justice secretary
    • Mairi Gougeon remains the rural affairs secretary
    • Angus Robertson is still the secretary for the constitution, external affairs and culture
    • Shirley-Anne Somerville becomes cabinet secretary for social justice

    Thank you for joining us today, please join us tomorrow for Humza Yousaf's inaugural first minister's questions.

    Today's live page was edited by Nicola Rutherford and Calum Watson. The live page writers were Paul O'Hare, Craig Hutchison and Katy Scott.

  2. New cabinet represents a 'generational shift'published at 17:26 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    BBC Scotland's political correspondent Kirsten Campbell tells Drivetime the new cabinet represents a "generational shift" with half of its members under 40.

    "Humza Yousaf's team would see this as proof that while he may have been the continuity candidate in the SNP leadership election, he is not going to be the continuity first minister."

    She says that is especially evident in Keith Brown's departure from government.

    Another key point is splitting up economy and finance into two separate portfolios.

    "That is a deliberate strategy to signal to the business community that this will be a government that is listening to them," she tells Drivetime.

  3. Analysis

    Analysis: Tough decisions for new Justice Secretary Angela Contancepublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    David Cowan
    BBC Scotland

    The new Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs will have to decide how many sacred cows of Scots Law should be lined up for the axe in the forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill.

    We already know that the not proven verdict's days are numbered. The big question is what else might go.

    Corroboration is the requirement for the essential facts of a crime to be established by two independent pieces of evidence.

    Like not proven, it's been around for centuries but critics say it can act as a barrier in the prosecution of offences such as rape.

    Also under consideration is a reduction in the size of juries and a change to the requirement for a simple 8:7 majority for a guilty verdict.

    Any of those will be controversial, to varying degrees.

    Add to that the huge backlog in the courts caused by the pandemic and ongoing complaints about the funding of Police Scotland and Angela Constance hasn't taken on an easy job.

  4. More women in cabinet than under any previous first ministerpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    women in cabinet
  5. Debate Night panel set to discuss momentous weekpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Debate Night montage

    The election of Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland's new first minister will be one of the main talking points on tonight's Debate Night on the BBC Scotland channel.

    Host Stephen Jardine will be joined by SNP MSP Karen Adam, Labour's Michael Marra, Douglas Lumsden of the Scottish Conservatives, broadcaster Lesley Riddoch and economist James Bream.

    The programme airs at 10:30pm and will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

  6. Who is Shona Robison?published at 17:03 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Ms Robison will be responsible for drawing up the annual Scottish budget in her new role as finance secretaryImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Ms Robison will be responsible for drawing up the annual Scottish budget in her new role as finance secretary

    Shona Robison has been appointed not just deputy first minister but she also takes on the crucial role of finance secretary.

    The MSP for Dundee City East has been part of the Scottish Parliament since it was established, having represented the North East of Scotland region for the SNP between 1999 and 2003, before winning her constituency seat.

    Robison is also a close friend and ally of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

    When Ms Sturgeon succeeded Alex Salmond as first minister in 2014, she made her friend and ally the health secretary.

    But Ms Robison said that role had been "at times very challenging" when she quit the cabinet in June 2018.

    However, a reshuffle after the 2021 Scottish election saw her rejoin the cabinet, this time taking on responsibility for social justice, housing and local government.

  7. Robison and Gray rewarded for loyaltypublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Drivetime with John Beattie
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Humza Yousaf flanked by Neil Gray and Shona RobisonImage source, PA Media

    BBC Scotland's senior politics reporter Jenni Davidson tells Drivetime Yousaf has rewarded those who have been loyal to him.

    She says Shona Robison is someone who has advised the new first minister and is someone he trusts.

    "She has now got the two biggest jobs, deputy first minister and finance.

    "Obviously it is easier if the person holding the purse strings shares the same vision."

    She adds Robison has also worked closely in the past with Neil Gray, who ran Mr Yousaf's campaign.

    His prize is the wellbeing economy, fair work and energy portfolio.

  8. Deputy first minister speaks on prioritiespublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Humza Yousaf and Shona RobisonImage source, PA Media

    Shona Robison, who replaces Kate Forbes as finance secretary in addition to her new role as deputy first minister, has been speaking to BBC Scotland's Drivetime programme about the new cabinet.

    The Dundee City East MSP says she wants to work across government and look at public sector reform, with an initial focus on the cost of living crisis.

    She says she hopes to focus on tackling child poverty, improving public services and building a greener economy in her new role.

    On Kate Forbes leaving government, Ms Robison says the first minister offered to discuss other roles with Ms Forbes as well as rural affairs.

    "But ultimately she has made the judgement, for all the reasons we understand about that work-life balance, to step out of the spotlight for now," she said.

    She adds that she hopes Ms Forbes returns to government in the future.

  9. Lesley Riddoch on loss of Ivan McKee from governmentpublished at 16:36 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Lunchtime Live
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Ivan McKee is leaving the government after he was offered a new job which he considered a step down.

    Broadcaster and columnist Lesley Riddoch says his loss as business and trade minister is significant.

    She told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live: "When he left he said he felt frustrated already, that he was hearing lots of complaints from business and was feeling unable to do very much about them.

    "The suggestion was that his new role had even more constraints on what he could actually do and that's what he found impossible.

    "Stripping everybody of a business outlook and experience - because he has worked in business out of the cabinet - would look like a bad direction to be going in."

  10. 'Fixated on division' - Scottish Liberal Democrats leaderpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Alex Cole-HamiltonImage source, PA Media

    Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton sends his best wishes to "any ministers who are prepared to actually focus on the people's priorities".

    "But all of these figures have been part of the ministerial team that has fixated on division at the price of spiralling NHS waiting lists, disruption in our schools and missed climate emergency targets," he said.

    The Edinburgh Western MSP also criticises the downgrading of housing and local government from senior titles.

    He said: “Humza Yousaf could instead be adopting Scottish Liberal Democrat plans that would make every home a warm one and value the important work of councils through a power surge.

    “It’s also not clear where transport fits into this mix. Will they just be taking it in turns to make excuses about the ferries?

    “While we are crackling with ideas, the SNP will continue to haemorrhage reasonable, fair-minded voters who simply want good governance and aren’t fussed about the constitution."

  11. The faces of the Scottish governmentpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    cabinet graphics
  12. Analysis

    Analysis: Is this a cabinet for change?published at 16:06 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    The first minister says his new cabinet is the right one to deliver a radical, ambitious and progressive policy agenda.

    It has a majority of women for the first time ever and half its members are under 40.

    Humza Yousaf's team see this as proof that while he may have been the continuity candidate in the SNP leadership election he is not going to be a continuity First Minister. This is change in action.

    Nowhere is that more evident than in the departure of the Justice Secretary Keith Brown from government. They did discuss roles, but Humza Yousaf has chosen to leave him out of his plans, though he does have his own mandate as SNP deputy leader.

    The other key point to note is the splitting up of the Finance and Economy brief into two separate portfolios. This is a deliberate strategy to signal to the business community that this will be a government that is not deaf to its concerns.

  13. Scottish Conservatives criticise cabinet of 'flops'published at 15:59 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Craig HoyImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy

    The chairman of the Scottish Conservatives claims the cabinet is made up of "proven flops and lackeys".

    Craig Hoy said: “The likes of Shona Robison, Michael Matheson, Angela Constance and Jenny Gilruth have been found sorely wanting in previous ministerial roles, yet all have been ‘rewarded’ with promotion by the new first minister."

    The MSP claimed the expansion of the health secretary's brief to include NHS recovery shows Humza Yousaf has "recognised his own abject failure as health secretary".

    The ministerial selections are the SNP chief's "revenge" on leadership rival Kate Forbes, Mr Hoy said.

    He added: “Instead of offering an olive branch to the huge chunk of the party that didn’t back him, he would rather pander to the extremist Scottish Greens by giving a ‘wellbeing economy’ minister cabinet status."

  14. 'Loyalty over talent' - Scottish Labour deputy leaderpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Jackie BaillieImage source, PA Media

    Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie has dismissed Humza Yousaf's cabinet appointments as him simply rewarding loyal followers.

    The Dumbarton MSP said the first minister "promised to bring the country together, but he can’t even bring his own party together."

    “This dismal cabinet cements the SNP’s new status as a deeply divided party led by B-rate politicians," she said.

    “Loyalty is being rewarded over talent – but both are in short supply in the SNP.

    “At the heart of this continuity government are some of the most incompetent politicians of the last decade, set to deliver more of the same failure.

    “While the SNP are mired in chaos, Scottish Labour is united in our vision to deliver the change Scotland desperately needs.”

  15. Humza Yousaf's cabinet - the headlinespublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    cabinetImage source, PA Media

    Humza Yousaf has unveiled his new cabinet team, after being formally sworn as first minister in a brief ceremony at the Court of Session.

    Now if you're just joining us here's a recap of the headlines:

    • Shona Robison is to replace Kate Forbes as Scotland's finance secretary
    • Humza Yousaf said Ms Robison would be given the finance brief as well as serving as his deputy first minister
    • Other key appointments include Michael Matheson taking over from Mr Yousaf as health secretary
    • Neil Gray, who led Mr Yousaf's SNP leadership campaign, also joins the cabinet after being given responsibility for the wellbeing economy, fair work and energy briefs
    • Another cabinet newcomer, Mairi McAllan, will be the net zero and just transition secretary at the age of just 30
    • Former transport minister Jenny Gilruth will join the full cabinet for the first time as education secretary
    • The SNP's deputy leader, Keith Brown, has been replaced by Angela Constance as the country's justice secretary
    • Mairi Gougeon remains the rural affairs secretary
    • Angus Robertson is still the secretary for the constitution, external affairs and culture
    • Shirley-Anne Somerville becomes cabinet secretary for social justice

    You can read more here.

  16. Is tension better inside the cabinet than out?published at 15:33 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Sir John Curtice
    Image caption,

    Professor Sir John Curtice

    Sir John Curtice tells BBC Scotland's Politics Scotland that Humza Yousaf won a "narrow victory" and was advised to ensure Kate Forbes was in his cabinet.

    The psephologist says that could have caused a certain amount of internal tension.

    "But its arguably better to have the tension inside the cabinet, rather than running the risk that Ms Forbes might become a critical voice on the backbenches," he added.

    We of course know now that Kate Forbes, who finished second in the SNP leadership race, has left the Scottish government, having turned down a move to rural affairs.

  17. Forbes wanted time out of the limelight says FMpublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Humza Yousaf is again asked if he is disappointed Kate Forbes is not in his cabinet.

    The first minister says: "Of course I'm disappointed because Kate's exceptional, she's a great talent, she's somebody whose got a lot to give."

    Yousaf says he would have much rather had her in government and his cabinet.

    "But she told me she wanted a bit of time out of the limelight," says the FM.

    "She's made a big decision that's for herself, for her family, but she will continue to serve this country, continue to serve this party with absolute distinction."

  18. Yousaf: McKee turned down offer to stay on as business ministerpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    The first minister was also asked by a journalist if Kate Forbes was the only person who turned down a job in his new cabinet.

    Mr Yousaf says Ivan McKee also rejected an offer to stay on as business minister.

    He adds: "I have many powers as first minister but compelling people in government is not one of them."

  19. Analysis

    A balance of youth and experiencepublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    Humza Yousaf has opted for a balance of youth and experience in his cabinet.

    This is underlined by the way he has split the finance portfolio between his deputy Shona Robison – an MSP since 1999 and a veteran of several government posts – and a fresher face in Neil Gray, who takes on the economy brief.

    Angela Constance and Michael Matheson both know their way around government, and have been handed two of the trickier jobs in justice and health.

    But perhaps the stiffest task has been reserved for cabinet newbie Jenny Gilruth, the former teacher who must now attempt to close the attainment gap – a task which eluded a succession of education secretaries including John Swinney.

    There are one or two glaring absences though.

    Keith Brown is out as justice secretary, two years after returning to government. He will presumably go back to focusing on his post as deputy leader of the SNP, with big changes in the offing at party HQ.

    And the absence of Kate Forbes may make it harder for Mr Yousaf to pull the party back together, given how close she ran him in the leadership contest.

  20. No place for Keith Brown in new look cabinetpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Keith BrownImage source, PA Media

    Taking questions from journalists outside Bute House, Yousaf was asked about the former justice secretary Keith Brown, who failed to secure a post in his cabinet.

    The new first minister describes his team as a blend of experience and fresh faces.

    He says: "Inevitably some people have to move on."

    Yousaf adds Brown has given "exceptional service" to the Scottish government and the country.