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. Tributes to the new FM at PMQspublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Mhairi Black
    Image caption,

    Deputy SNP Westminster leader Mhairi Black at PMQs

    At Prime Minister's Questions, deputy SNP Westminster leader Mhairi Black congratulates Humza Yousaf on his appointment as Scotland's new first minister.

    Rishi Sunak and the Labour leader Keir Starmer are at the funeral of the former Speaker Baroness Boothroyd, so the deputy leaders are standing in today.

    Black says Yousaf becomes "the first Scots Asian and Muslim to hold such an office".

    "I'm sure the whole house will send him warm regards," she adds.

    Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab
    Image caption,

    Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab is standing in for Rishi Sunak at PMQs

    Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab also pays tribute to the new first minister of Scotland, adding that the prime minister spoke to Sunak last night.

    Raab says: "We welcome him to his place and of course the government wants to work constructively with him in the best interests of the people of Scotland."

  2. PM: I'm looking forward to working with Yousafpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Rishi SunakImage source, Getty Images

    While we're waiting for developments from Bute House, let's look back to the conversation between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Scotland's new first minister.

    They spoke on Tuesday evening - just hours after MSPs voted for Humza Yousaf to succeed Nicola Sturgeon - and appear to have covered a wide range of issues.

    Afterwards Sunak tweeted: "I’ve just spoken to @HumzaYousaf , externalto congratulate him on becoming the new First Minister of Scotland.

    "I’m looking forward to working with him to deliver on the priorities that matter most to people across Scotland - from cutting NHS waiting lists to growing our economy."

    Yousaf also took to social media after the phone call.

    He posted: "Just spoken with PM @RishiSunak, external - we had a constructive discussion on a range of issues, including helping people through the cost of living crisis.

    "I also made clear that I expect the democratic wishes of Scotland's people and parliament to be respected by the UK government."

  3. 'We don't yet know when we will get that full line-up'published at 12:42 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Lunchtime Live
    BBC Radio Scotland

    BBC Scotland political correspondent Kirsten Campbell tells BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live it is not known exactly when the full cabinet line-up will be confirmed.

    She says: "We were expecting to get that after lunch. Maybe some time around 2pm there was talk we would have the cabinet arriving on the steps

    "However we were also expecting arrivals ever 10 to 15 minutes this morning.

    "And I can tell you, having been here since 9am, it is quite cold and we have only had three ministers go in.

    "I am being assured in some quarters that they are not behind schedule, they have just reordered the schedule, but we don't yet know when we will get that full line-up."

  4. Who has arrived at Bute House so far?published at 12:35 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Now if you're just joining us, Humza Yousaf is beginning the job of shaping his new government after being officially sworn in as Scotland's first minister.

    Mr Yousaf took the oath of office during a short ceremony at the Court of Session on Tuesday morning.

    He will soon begin to announce his ministerial appointments.

    Here's a quick recap of who has arrived at Bute House:

    • Shirley-Anne Somerville
    • Michael Matheson
    • Neil Gray
    • Mairi Gougeon
    • Angela Constance
  5. Angela Constance is the next to go through the Bute House doorpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Angela ConstanceImage source, PA Media

    Angela Constance is the latest minister to arrive.

    The drug policy minister will shortly find out if she has a new cabinet role.

  6. Salmond congratulates Yousaf on becoming FMpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Alex Salmond and Humza Yousaf in 2011Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Alex Salmond was first minister when Humza Yousaf became Scotland's youngest MSP in 2011

    Alex Salmond has congratulated Humza Yousaf on being sworn in as Scotland's first minister.

    The SNP's first first minister told BBC Politics Live Yousaf was "much better dressed than I was" at the swearing in ceremony.

    Salmond said he hoped Yousaf could deliver independence and advised him not to listen to the voices that say "soft peddle independence".

  7. Mairi Gougeon arrives at Bute Housepublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Mairi Gougeon arrives at Bute HouseImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon arrives at Bute House

    The next cabinet secretary to arrive is Mairi Gougeon.

    She is currently the rural affairs secretary - a post offered to Kate Forbes last night.

    The BBC understands Forbes was offered a move to rural affairs by the new first minister but turned down the job.

  8. Who is Scotland's new first minister, Humza Yousaf?published at 11:55 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Media caption,

    Humza Yousaf: Five things to know about Scotland's new first minister

    Now as we await his cabinet announcements, here's a reminder of just who Humza Yousaf is.

    As well as being Scotland's sixth first minister, he is the first from an ethnic minority background.

    BBC Scotland's Kirsten Campbell looks back on his career in politics and at the challenges ahead for the government he now leads.

    Video by Morgan Spence

  9. Neil Gray arrives at Bute Housepublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    Neil GrayImage source, PA Media

    The current minister for culture, Europe and international development, Neil Gray has arrived at Bute House.

    I asked him what his reward for managing Humza Yousaf's campaign would be.

    He said: "Hopefully the opportunity to serve Scotland."

  10. New deputy FM will not take on health portfoliopublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    In her interview on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland, Shona Robison ruled out returning to the health secretary position she held from November 2014 to June 2018.

    She said her new role as John Swinney's successor was a "real honour".

    But she declined to speculate whether she would be offered an additional portfolio in Yousaf's cabinet.

    And asked about the health secretary job, she said: "It is not a role I would take on again."

  11. Robison: Forbes wanted out of the spotlightpublished at 11:26 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Good Morning Scotland
    BBC Radio Scotland

    Shona RobisonImage source, PA Media

    While we await news of Humza Yousaf's first cabinet appointments, let's return to the subject of Kate Forbes who yesterday left government, having turned down the offer of the rural affairs brief.

    Earlier Deputy First Minister Shona Robison denied that job offer was a snub to Yousaf's leadership rival who was formerly finance secretary.

    She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland the first meeting Yousaf had after being confirmed as the SNP's new leader on Monday was with Forbes at Murrayfield.

    Robison added: "He made clear that he wanted Kate to be in government and they spoke on a number of occasions over the last two days about a role in government.

    "I understand the discussion was very cordial and was very much centred on what Kate's thoughts were."

    Asked if Forbes had been offered a demotion from the finance brief to rural affairs, Robison told the programme all government roles were important.

    She added "I know that the first minister was prepared to look at other roles, but after consideration it was Kate who made it clear that she wanted out of the spotlight."

  12. Somerville and Matheson arrive at Bute Housepublished at 11:12 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent, live at Bute House

    Michael MathesonImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Michael Matheson appeared not to know whether he would be offered the health brief

    Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has arrived at Bute House.

    Michael Matheson shrugged when asked if he was going to be health secretary.

    Shirley-Anne SomervilleImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Shirley-Anne Somerville was also seen entering Bute House

  13. In pictures: Humza Yousaf is sworn in as first minister of Scotlandpublished at 11:12 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Humza sworn inImage source, PA Media

    We promised you official photographs from the swearing-in ceremony at the highest court in Scotland - and here they are.

    Humza Yousaf's family and friends looked on he took part in the ceremony which made his appointment as first minister of Scotland official.

    Lord Advocate Dorthy Bain KC watched as Yousaf signed the parchments as part of the historic proceedings, which were presided over by Lord Carloway.

    He pledged his allegiance to the King, as well as to serve him in the role as first minister and Keeper of the Seal of Scotland.

    Humza sworn inImage source, PA Media
    Lord CarlowayImage source, PA Media
    Humza sworn inImage source, PA Media
    Humza signs the parchementsImage source, PA Media
    HumzaImage source, PA Media
    Humza with the Great Seal of ScotlandImage source, PA Media
  14. Scotland's new FM: What has happened so far today?published at 11:00 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    If you're just joining us here are the developments this morning:

    • Humza Yousaf is beginning the job of shaping his new government after being officially sworn in as Scotland's first minister
    • Yousaf took the oath of office during a short ceremony at the Court of Session earlier this morning
    • The first minister will soon begin to announce his ministerial appointments
    • Kate Forbes is leaving government after turning down a move to rural affairs
    • Ivan McKee, who had been the business minister under Nicola Sturgeon, will also leave
    • Yousaf has already confirmed that Shona Robison will serve as his deputy first minister
    • The FM has also re-appointed Sturgeon's chief of staff, Colin McAllister, to the same role

  15. FM meets the neighbourspublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent, outside Bute House

    The new first minister stopped to chat to staff at the National Trust for Scotland's Georgian House next door, as he arrived at his official residence Bute House, after being sworn in.

    "So you're the neighbours," Humza Yousaf said.

    Humza meets the neighboursImage source, PA Media
  16. Yousaf reappoints Sturgeon's chief of staffpublished at 10:46 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    Humza Yousaf has reappointed Nicola Sturgeon’s chief of staff, Colin McAllister.

    Special advisers usually leave office with the first minister who appointed them so this is more evidence of continuity as the new government takes shape.

    Mr McAllister is understood to be proud to serve but was disappointed that he was working late last night and missed Scotland's 2-0 win over Spain at Hampden.

    After the match he tweeted, external: "I had tickets for tonight's Scotland game. I couldn't go. Please do not talk to me for some considerable time."

  17. Scotland's new FM: It's all a bit surrealpublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Humza Yousaf with his wife Nadia El-Nakla, daughter Amal, and step-daughter MayaImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Humza Yousaf with his wife Nadia El-Nakla, three-year-old daughter Amal, and step-daughter Maya

    Scotland's new first minister Humza Yousaf has arrived at Bute House.

    Asked if he was pleased to be "official", he replied: "Yeah, I am. It's all a bit surreal".

    He didn't answer questions about losing Kate Forbes or reuniting the party.

    Yousaf was then joined by his family, who posed for photographs with him on the steps of his official residence.

  18. Why did Kate Forbes turn down the rural affairs job?published at 10:28 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Glenn Campbell
    BBC Scotland Political Editor

    Kate Forbes congratulated Mr Yousaf after he was voted first ministerImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Kate Forbes congratulated Mr Yousaf after he was voted first minister

    I'm hearing more about Kate Forbes’ decision not to accept the rural affairs job.

    My understanding is that she felt the SNP’s partnership deal with the Greens would have tied her hands and cost her dearly in her constituency.

  19. The tension mounts at Bute Housepublished at 10:23 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Tourists on a walking tour of Edinburgh are slightly bewildered by the gathering media outside the First Minister’s official residence.

    Meanwhile our political correspondent Kirsten Campbell is in situ at Bute House where the tension mounts, for some at least

    Kirsten sent us this picture of some rather bemused tourists, on a walking out of Edinburgh, outside Bute House.

    We'll bring you all the updates and analysis through out the morning.

  20. New FM shares 'special moment' with family in Bute Housepublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 29 March 2023

    Humza and familyImage source, Humza Yousaf

    The first minister's family watched as he was sworn in at the Court of Session - and we'll share pictures as soon as they come through,

    But last night they joined him at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh, after he was voted in as first minister at Holyrood.

    Humza Yousaf's family are among millions of Muslims in the UK and around the world who are marking Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar.

    It involves a period of fasting before Eid al-Fitr, which translates as "the festival of the breaking of the fast", on 21 April.

    Muslims have an early morning meal before dawn, known as suhoor or sehri.

    They do not eat or drink anything - including water - until they break their fast after sunset for the evening meal, called iftar or fitoor.

    Sharing pictures of the occasion, Yousaf tweeted, external: "My family and I spending our first night in Bute House after today's parliamentary vote.

    "A special moment leading my family in prayer in Bute House as is customary after breaking fast together."

    Humza and family prayingImage source, Humza Yousaf