Scottish cabinet reshuffle unveiled

Summary

Nicola Sturgeon reshuffles her cabinet, expanding it to 12 members
Five new cabinet secretaries enter the top team
Jeane Freeman replaces Shona Robison as health secretary
Mike Russell is promoted to constitutional relations secretary - a new position
Humza Yousaf becomes justice secretary, replace Michael Matheson who had moved to transport
Ministerial Statement: Scotland's Education Reforms
MSPs have a debate on 'defending the powers of the Scottish parliament'

Live Reporting

Louise Wilson and Craig Hutchison

Wow what a day! That's all from Holyrood Livepublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Image caption,
Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her new expanded cabinet outside Bute House in Edinburgh
That's all from Holyrood Live on Wednesday 26 June 2018.
Scotland's health secretary has quit as Nicola Sturgeon unveiled a major reshuffle of her Scottish government cabinet.
There are five new cabinet secretaries in the first minister's expanded top team, which remains gender balanced.
Shona Robison handed in her resignation as health secretary ahead of the reshuffle being announced.
She will be replaced by Jeane Freeman, with Keith Brown and Angela Constance also quitting the government.
- Profile: Shona Robison
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Mr Swinney conceded that there had been opposition to many of the proposals in the bill
On a busy day at Holyroo,d the Scottish government announced it had shelved its flagship Education Bill after claiming key reforms can be introduced more quickly without changing the law.
Nicola Sturgeon previously said the bill would be the most radical change to how schools are run since devolution.
But it faced opposition from teaching unions and some opposition parties.
Some of the proposals will now be introduced through an agreement with councils instead.
- What's happening with education in Scotland?
Reshuffle: So who will be up for junior minister positions?published at 18:19 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
Image source, Scottish parliament
We know Legal Affairs Minister Annabelle Ewing, Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt and International Development Minister Alasdair Allan are all standing down.
We also know that Humza Yousaf, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Jeane Freeman and Michael Russell has been promoted to the cabinet.
This leaves Joe Fitzpatrick, Maree Todd, Kevin Stewart, Paul Wheelhouse and Jamie Hepburn likely to remain as junior ministers - though not necessarily in the same roles.
Who will fill the rest?
Rumours in the press suggest Kate Forbes, Jenny Gilruth, Gail Ross and Ivan McKee could be plucked from the backbenches.
Join Holyrood Live tomorrow for the latest updates.
Don't go away!! Here's a summary of this reshuffle.....published at 18:11 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
Breaking
Five new cabinet secretaries have been appointed, with the overall size of the cabinet increasing to 12 to "reflect the increasing impact of Brexit on Scottish government business, and ensure direct cabinet oversight of the operational delivery of a new social security system".
The first minister has appointed:
- Humza Yousaf as justice secretary
- Jeane Freeman is promoted to become cabinet secretary for health and sport
- Shirley-Anne Somerville has been appointed as a dedicated cabinet secretary for social security and older people
- Aileen Campbell will become cabinet secretary for communities and local government
Image source, Twitter
Image caption,
Here's the new cabinet................
- Derek MacKay will become cabinet secretary for finance, economy and fair work
- Michael Matheson will become cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity.
- Michael Russell will join cabinet with responsibility for government business and constitutional relations
- John Swinney, Roseanna Cunningham and Fiona Hyslop will remain in their current posts, while Keith Brown, Shona Robison and Angela Constance will leave the government
The new appointments will be put to Parliament for approval on Thursday 28 June.
Join us tomorrow for extensive coverage of the junior ministerial appointments.
Too soon for Jeane Freeman? Joe Fitzpatrick closes NHS debatepublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Not the new health secretar
Parliamentary Business Minister Joe Fitzpatrick is as surprised as us that he is closing this debate on the NHS on behalf of the government.
Mr Fitzpatrick says: "I'm sure members will be surprised to see me close the debate.
"I know I am."
He offers thanks to Shona Robison for her service to the NHS.
Postpublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Meanwhile from the NHS debate............published at 17:57 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Profile: former Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robisonpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Health Secretary Shona Robison
Shona Robison has quit as Scotland's health secretary after three and a half years in what she called a "very challenging" and "all-consuming" post.
In her resignation letter, the 52-year-old said her own life had also been challenging in recent times, "losing both of my parents, having a health scare of my own and some big changes in my personal life".
Those changes include a high-profile split from her partner of 20 years - SNP MP Stewart Hosie - and a new relationship.
- Shona Robison quits as health secretary
- read more here
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Shona Robison pictured among the inaugural class of 1999 at Holyrood
Postpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
Cabinet grows from 10 to 12 ministers, 50:50 gender balance maintainedpublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Postpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Here is the new Scottish Cabinetpublished at 17:42 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
- First Minister - Nicola Sturgeon
- Education and Skills Secretary (and Deputy First Minister) - John Swinney
- Justice Secretary - Humza Yousaf
- Health and Sport Secretary - Jeane Freeman
- Social Security and Older People Secretary - Shirley-Anne Somerville
- Communities and Local Government Secretary- Aileen Campbell
- Finance, Economy and Fair Work Secretary - Derek Mackay
- Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Secretary- Michael Matheson
- Rural Economy Secretary - Fergus Ewing
- Government Business and Constitutional Relations Secretary - Michael Russell
- Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Secretary - Fiona Hyslop
- Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform - Roseanna Cunningham
Postpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Here's some detail about the new cabinet..............published at 17:37 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
Breaking
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has today appointed a new, refreshed Scottish Government Cabinet.
Five new cabinet secretaries have been appointed, with the overall size of the Cabinet increasing to 12 to reflect the increasing impact of Brexit on Scottish government business, and ensure direct cabinet oversight of the operational delivery of a new social security system.
The first minister has appointed Humza Yousaf as justice secretary.
Jeane Freeman is promoted to become cabinet secretary for health and sport.
Shirley-Anne Somerville has been appointed as a dedicated cabinet secretary for socialsecurity and older people
Aileen Campbell will become cabinet secretary for communities and local government
Image source, Twitter
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Fiona Hyslop and John Swinney were the last of the new cabinet to arrive
Derek MacKay will become cabinet secretary for finance, economy and fair work
Michael Matheson will become cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity.
Michael Russell will join cabinet with responsibility for government business and constitutional relations
John Swinney, Roseanna Cunningham and Fiona Hyslop will remain in their current posts, while Keith Brown, Shona Robison and Angela Constance will leave the government.
The new appointments will be put to Parliament for approval on Thursday 28 June.
Jeane Freeman is the new health secretarypublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Jeane Freeman is the new health secretary
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Here's the cabinet!!published at 17:34 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Humza Yousaf moves to the justice briefpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Here's the new line up..................................bigger print on the way!published at 17:32 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Not long now.....................................published at 17:29 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Will the cabinet grow to a dozen?published at 17:26 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
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Tributes from Labour and Tory healthspokespeople to Shona Robisonpublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 26 June 2018
Scottish Conservative health spokesperson Miles Briggs pays tribute to Shona Robison.
Despite many disagreements, Mr Briggs says he never doubted Ms Robison's commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of our nation.
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Miles Briggs, Shona Robison and Anas Sarwar
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Anas Sarwar, who repeatedly called for Ms Robison to stand down as health secretary, also thanks her for her service.
Mr Sarwar accepts they were "not exactly the best of friends", but wishes her well for the future.