John Swinney unveils a largely unchanged cabinet after becoming Scotland's first minister
Kate Forbes is appointed deputy first minister, replacing Shona Robison
Forbes - who takes on the economy portfolio and responsibility for Gaelic - says it is "a moment of extraordinary privilege for me"
Robison remains in the cabinet as secretary for finance and local government
Mairi McAllan, the secretary for net zero and energy, loses the economy part of her brief
Swinney says his cabinet team "blends experience and energy"
That's all from our live page today. The editors were Paul McLaren and Graeme Esson. The writers were Paul O'Hare, Craig Hutchison and Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce.
Thank you for joining us. We'll be back again tomorrow as John Swinney faces his first FMQs in the top role. Have a lovely evening.
If you're just joining us, here's a recap of today's big events:
John Swinney named his cabinet after being sworn in as first minister (Video by Graham Fraser)
Image source, PA MediaKate Forbes' role will be central to John Swinney's government, MSP Ivan McKee says
One of Kate Forbes' staunchest allies has told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime he is delighted for her, as she is now the "second most important person in government".
"The economy brief, which she's obviously very familiar with, is absolutely central to the government's agenda going forward," says Ivan McKee.
The SNP MSP adds: "At the end of the day every policy is an economic policy,"
Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor
The only major changes in this cabinet are at the top with John Swinney taking over from Humza Yousaf as first minister and Kate Forbes being brought in as his deputy.
Of course, the top is where most power lies.
That should mean that Ms Forbes has a say in policy making right across the Scottish government as well as direct responsibility for the economy and Gaelic.
It also means that someone who could have been a potentially powerful critic on the backbenches is now arguing her case inside government, bound by collective responsibility.
It is far from clear and perhaps unlikely that this leadership team will operate as closely as the Sturgeon-Swinney partnership.
It is after all just over a year since Mr Swinney questioned the leadership credentials of Kate Forbes when she stood against Mr Yousaf.
Now they will have to forge a new relationship with one another and the wider cabinet team.
It will also be interesting to see if any Forbes supporters are given jobs in the lower ranks of the Scottish government. MSP Jim Fairlie was the only one in place at the end of the Yousaf administration.
Image source, Scottish governmentThe SNP came to power in 2007, with Alex Salmond as first minister and Nicola Sturgeon as his deputy. Permanet Secretary Sir John Elvidge is also pictured (centre)
The new cabinet announced by John Swinney is the eighth since the SNP came to power in 2007.
All of the faces have changed - apart from two.
Fiona Hyslop and John Swinney himself.
Image source, PA MediaScottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton says the largely unchanged cabinet is "a recipe for disappointment".
He adds: "This parade of familiar faces proves that nobody in the SNP ever pays the price despite one in seven Scots being stuck on NHS waiting lists, sewage dumping in our rivers reaching record levels, and islanders waiting forever for ferries."
The Edinburgh Western MP says his party would put Scotland at the heart of a reformed UK and fix "our broken relationship" with Europe.
Image source, PAJohn Swinney's new cabinet gathers on the steps of Bute House
If you're just joining us this afternoon, it's worth running through the make-up of John Swinney's new cabinet again:
David Henderson
BBC Scotland Correspondent
Whether it's trains, planes, or automobiles, Scotland's transport system brings tough choices for John Swinney.
On ScotRail, he's under pressure to extend the government’s pilot scheme to remove peak rail fares and shift to off-peak fares all day. But it's due to expire next month.
Little planning was done on the cost impact -- so Humza Yousaf came close to writing a blank cheque for this, albeit with the aim of helping commuters in a cost of living crisis.
So will the new FM agree it's cash well spent? In recent weeks, he's talked of using public money "forensically" to make the greatest impact. That could give cover for cutting this programme.
Buses are coming under public control in Strathclyde -- a transformative move after years of decline.
But that's set to take years. Could John Swinney spend more to speed this up - and allow other regions to follow Strathclyde's lead?
Buses are Scotland's most used form of public transport, so improvements here could arguably deliver greater change than any other transport plan.
The end of the Bute House agreement could bring a fresh commitment to road-building and improvement work, as Green priorities give way to the needs of motorists.
We can expect renewed demands to dual the A9 from Perth to Inverness, the A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness and the A75 between Stranraer and Gretna.
And that may tempt Mr Swinney to divert funds from the active travel budget. It pays for improvements to cycling, wheeling and walking routes.
CalMac is still chronically short of ferries. More are on their way. But calming this storm may require more radical plans.
Will the FM be tempted to commission more vessels from abroad, or more of the cheaper catamarans which could give the ferry operator more bangs for its bucks?
More political reaction to the events at Bute House as Tory MSP Miles Briggs tells Radio Scotland's Drivetime "It seems not to be so much a reset as a retread and I'm quite surprised the new first minister hasn't taken the opportunity to make more changes."
He adds that it was Kate Forbes who warned last year that "continuity won't cut it".
The cabinet basically has continuity at its core, Briggs says.
Briggs describes the appointments as "underwhelming" and he wants to see what the new cabinet are willing to change.
"We need a lot of change in Scotland," he says.
Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland news correspondent
The relationship between the Scottish government and many councils became badly strained during Humza Yousaf's time in office.
Mr Yousaf's decision to announce a fresh council tax freeze without consulting local government first angered many councillors. Even some SNP councillors were unhappy.
Repairing that relationship is vital.
Yet councils also argue that the financial pressures they are facing are relentless.
Extra financial powers. such as the potential to levy a charge on hotel bedrooms, may offer some respite.
Some in local government continue to worry about a gradual drift of power to the centre.
In the past two years, there have been two widespread strikes over council pay. One led to the rubbish piling up in Edinburgh - the other caused school closures.
Until unions and councils reach an agreement on this year's pay rise - which staff should have got in April - the possibility of a new pay dispute this year cannot be discounted.
As councils rely heavily on the Scottish government for cash, any dispute would - once again - almost certainly need to be solved with cash from Holyrood.
And will the new first minister finally make a determined effort to replace the council tax?
It was an SNP commitment in 2007 but finding an alternative which allows for local accountability while also being workable and easily understood has been difficult.
You surely can't have missed it, but if you have...
John Swinney has been sworn in as Scotland's seventh first minister.
So who is he?
From his first election as an MP in 1997, to his record as deputy first minister and reputation for heckling, BBC political correspondent Kirsten Campbell looks back at the SNP leader's decades-long political career.
Video by Pippa Ligertwood.
Image source, Getty ImagesScottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie describes the reshuffle as "uninspiring" and says the country needs an election.
She adds: "After 17 years of failure, every single institution in Scotland is now weaker and those responsible remain at the heart of government.
"This is a continuity cabinet that cannot be trusted to fix the chaos and instability they have created."
Quote MessageWith two of the former finance secretaries responsible for trashing public finances now in the top jobs, more SNP chaos lies ahead.
Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour deputy leader
David Henderson
BBC Scotland political correspondent
John Swinney's campaign slogan has been "Uniting for Independence".
And he has a ton of work to do if he's to deliver those goals.
As he said himself at his campaign launch, the SNP is "not as cohesive as it needs to be".
The party, he said, must have a "vibrant, internal democracy", with the party leaders "questioned and challenged about priorities”.
That's a suggestion that it hasn't happened enough recently - with too much power in the hands of leaders.
John Swinney was in charge of the SNP 20 years ago, before Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon became first ministers.
And his backers hope this favourite son of the SNP can take the Scottish government in a new direction.
But a long spell in government means it'll be judged by voters on what it's done - or not done.
And since the UK government won't allow another referendum, the road to independence seems blocked for now.
Image source, Jane Barlow PADeputy First Minister Kate Forbes and First Minister John Swinney return to Bute House
"I will be the first minister for everyone in Scotland," insists John Swinney.
"Whether those people are in the LGBT community or not.
"I will be the first minister of everybody in Scotland and my government will aspire to be a government for all of the people of our country."
With that John Swinney and Kate Forbes, head back into Bute House to begin the work of government.
Image source, PA MediaSpeaking outside Bute House, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes says she is "absolutely delighted" to be back in government
And she describes her return to the cabinet as an "enormous privilege".
Forbes tells reporters her role is to support the first minister and to unite the country "behind the great economic opportunities of our day".
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch also highlights the need to eradicate poverty and deliver economic growth.
John Swinney adds that his government must be clear with the people of Scotland about its priorities.
The new first minister tells journalists his party will be focused on the centre left policy position and will will work with parliament to advance those issues.
"We will seek common ground with all political parties because we are now operating as a minority government. We don't have a command of the parliamentary chamber.
"So the onus is on everybody to engage in constructive discussion about how the Scottish Parliament can work together to address the priorities of the people of Scotland."
Image source, PA MediaAfter their group photocall, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and First Minister John Swinney cross the road to speak to the gaggle of journalists.
Swinney says he is delighted to have Forbes as his deputy first minister and as minister for the economy and the Gaelic language.
The first minister insists the team has been assembled to focus on the priorities of the people of Scotland.
Quote MessageI've assembled a team which brings together the strength of the Scottish National Party to focus on the policy programme that I set out in my leadership proposal to the party, anchored in the centre left of Scottish politics."
John Swinney, First Minister
Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent
Just before John Swinney appeared on the steps of Bute House with his cabinet, he spoke to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the phone.
The first minister raised the issue of child poverty and the pair agreed to disagree about independence. They agreed to work constructively.
Image source, PA MediaSo, First Minister John Swinney has announced a new Scottish Cabinet to help drive real and urgent progress in eradicating child poverty, driving economic growth, and tackling the climate emergency.
Mr Swinney said:“Ahead of my appointment as First Minister, I committed to working collaboratively across the Parliament to address the pressing issues facing the people of Scotland.
“With that in mind, I have selected a Cabinet team that blends experience and energy, with a strong focus on the priorities my government will pursue – eradicating child poverty, driving economic growth, meeting climate obligations and investing in our vital public services.
“My overriding priority will be to work to eradicate child poverty in Scotland, an issue on which real progress has been made through measures such as the Scottish Child Payment. The government I lead will maximise every lever at our disposal to tackle the scourge of poverty in our country.
“A strong economy supports the delivery of services on which people depend."
David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent
Well, we now have the new cabinet. Which looks a lot like the old cabinet.
Kate Forbes has joined as deputy first minister with economy and Gaelic responsibilities. Many had assumed her addition meant someone would have to lose their job, but the cabinet has simply increased to 11.
Mairi McAllan has lost the economy part of her brief (which has gone to Kate Forbes).
Every other cabinet minister who served under Humza Yousaf remains in place, with the exact same responsibilities.
Many opposition figures had claimed John Swinney represented continuity, and these appointments will certainly reinforce that message.
Perhaps given that the last reshuffle wasn’t that long ago, he’s decided to not rock the boat too much at this point.
But I think quite a few people at Holyrood will be surprised just how little John Swinney has chosen to change.