Sunak's 'love bomb' strategy towards Swinneypublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 8 May

14:20 BST 8 May

David Henderson
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The FM has changed - but the PM's approach has not.

Rishi Sunak - who congratulated John Swinney immediately after he was sworn in - is continuing a "love bomb" strategy towards the SNP government.

That means avoiding getting embroiled in a war of words.

Instead he claims to be looking forward to working with John Swinney.

But his cabinet colleagues aren’t mincing their words.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack's urged Mr Swinney to improve "failing public services" and "put aside his obsession with independence”.

So it’s more of the same from him.

As John Swinney starts putting his new cabinet together, here's a reminder of what he had to say immediately after being sworn in as first minister.

Politics Scotland is about to start on BBC One Scotland at 14:15, with all the latest on the new first minister and the cabinet reshuffle.

Just click on the play icon at the top of the page to watch here with us on this live page.

Image source, PA Media

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville is the next serving minister to meet John Swinney as he adds the finishing touches to his new top team.

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Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and Justice Secretary Angela Constance are now learning if they will feature in John Swinney's new cabinet.

Image source, PA Media

Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland News

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's new deputy first minister, Kate Forbes, has already experienced the highs and lows of a career at Holyrood in her relatively short time in politics.

She enjoyed a rapid rise to become Scotland's first female finance secretary in 2020, but was narrowly defeated in last year's SNP leadership contest by Humza Yousaf.

The backbench MSP considered another bid for her party's top job to succeed Yousaf but ultimately pulled out and backed John Swinney, who was elected unopposed.

Having been promised a "significant" role in Swinney's government, Forbes could not have been given a greater position as she returns as his deputy.

Read more from BBC Scotland political reporter Angus Cochrane here.

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Shona Robison told John Swinney the best way to unite the SNP and deliver a "progressive agenda" would be to appoint Kate Forbes as deputy first minister, it has been revealed.

In a letter to the new first minister, former Deputy First Minister Robison wrote: "I told you I believed this would strongly signal, for all of us in government, that this is the best approach to showing that we are united and ready to serve the people of Scotland.

"It is also in the best interests of your leadership and the party; and both of us have always put public duty and the interest of the party over and above any self interest."

Forbes last year narrowly lost out to Humza Yousaf in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.

Image source, PA Media

It's all been happening at Bute House this afternoon.

Here are the headlines from a busy day so far:

• Kate Forbes has returned to the Scottish government as deputy first minister
• The former finance secretary was appointed by new first minister John Swinney

• She had opted not to challenge him for the top job
• Shona Robison has stepped down as DFM but will remain in the cabinet in a so-far unspecified role
• Swinney is making cabinet appointments at his official residence, Bute House, after being sworn in at the Court of Session this morning
• Swinney's choices will be rubber-stamped in parliament on Thursday
• As well as Shona Robison, Health Secretary Neil Gray, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Wellbeing Economy Secretary Mairi McAllan have all arrived at Bute House to learn their fate
• We'll bring you all the developments as and when they happen

You can continue to watch the comings and goings at Bute House here with us on this live page.

Just click on the play icon at the top of the page.

If you're just joining us, the latest big news is that Kate Forbes has been named by John Swinney as the new deputy first minister.

Swinney has just had this to say of his new deputy: "I am very pleased to appoint Kate as Deputy First Minister and look forward to working with her in this new government.

“She is an immensely talented politician, and her new role will prove critical as we focus on our key commitments of eradicating child poverty, investing in public services and supporting economic growth.”

Image source, Reuters

Neil Gray, who replaced Michael Matheson as health secretary in February, is the next minister to arrive at Bute House. What does the future hold for him? We should find out shortly.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, in a statement, says: "I am deeply honoured to accept John's invitation to be his deputy first minister.

"This is a moment of extraordinary privilege for me."

She goes on: "I look forward to working with John and cabinet colleagues to deliver for the people of Scotland and build a better country."

There was a cheeky wave from Kate Forbes as she arrived at Bute House. She has now been confirmed as the new deputy first minister

The first big cabinet job announcement of the day is Kate Forbes as the new deputy first minister.

She replaces Shona Robison, who will stay in cabinet in a role to be confirmed later.

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The next cabinet secretary to arrive at Bute House to learn her fate is Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The MSPs arriving at Bute House are waving to the media before they enter the first minister’s official residence.

Journalists have joked it’s like an episode of Stars In Their Eyes as we wait to see what jobs they will come back out with. “Tonight, Matthew I’m going to be Finance Secretary!”

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Màiri McAllan is next to arrive at Bute House.

The 31-year-old is currently Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy.

In February, she announced she is pregnant and will take maternity leave this summer.

It will be the second time a serving Scottish cabinet secretary has taken maternity leave after Kate Forbes' pregnancy in 2022.

Image source, PA Media

Kate Forbes is expected to be handed one of the plum jobs in government by new First Minister John Swinney.

Last week, Swinney offered Forbes a "significant" role in his government.

He was speaking after the former finance secretary confirmed in a statement she would not stand in the SNP leadership contest.

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Finally, ministers have started to arrive.

Kate Forbes was first through the black door.

When journalists asked what job she was hoping for she smiled and said: “We’ll find out soon enough."

She was followed shortly after by the Deputy First Minister Shona Robison who will find out if she is to keep that post.

Image source, PA Media

Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison arrives at Bute House as John Swinney starts putting his cabinet team together.

David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent

A number of ministers are milling around Holyrood, waiting to find out if they’ll keep their jobs in the reshuffle.

It’s a short walk/drive to Bute House, where John Swinney is selecting his top team.

“Who knows what today will bring”, one minister says to me.