This week, John Swinney was re-elected and sworn in as the First Minister. In his speech, he outlined his key goals for the next five years: ease the cost of living crisis, protect the NHS, ensure community cohesion, protect the environment and grow the economy.
To assist in delivering his party’s priorities, the First Minister has chosen a slimmed down cabinet, going from 12 secretaries in the previous government down to 9; but it comes with hefty experience, with seven of the nine having served in the cabinet previously.
Despite the experience, however, much has changed. Only two Cabinet Secretaries, Shirley-Anne Somerville and Gillian Martin, have kept their cabinet briefs.
The slimmed down Cabinet gives some insight into the First Minister’s priorities in the next Parliament. The Housing brief has been merged into Social Justice, Transport into Economy, Rural Affairs into Energy and Culture into Education. Intriguingly, the Constitution portfolio, with responsibility for independence, has now been given to the First Minister, putting John Swinney front and centre of the discussion on Scotland’s future.
Of interest is the new role created for Ivan McKee, who served as the Minister for Public Finance in John Swinney’s last government, with his brief now promoted to cabinet level. In his speech on the Cabinet, the First Minister confirmed he wanted a ‘leaner, more agile’ government. These comments, along with McKee’s promotion to the Cabinet, signals that difficult decisions are likely to be made in public sector funding.
In energy, there appears to have been a split in responsibilities. The First Minister has shown faith in Gillian Martin, who retains her position as Minister for Climate Action, with Rural Affairs added to their portfolio. However, Stephen Gethins has also been made Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy, reporting directly to the First Minister. While the First Minister showing faith in Martin might signal a continuation in the Scottish Government’s energy policy, with a likely focus on renewable energy development, we will have to wait and see how the responsibilities are divided. How Martin will balance the Rural Affairs portfolio, with growing opposition over renewable infrastructure proposals in rural parts of the country, will also be one to watch.
The addition of Housing to Shirley Anne-Somerville’s portfolio is also worth noting. The merging of the briefs means that the same Secretary will now be responsible for tackling child poverty, human rights and social security as well as homelessness, tenants’ rights and fuel poverty. This suggests a housing policy focussed on reducing poverty and housing insecurity, as opposed to growth.
On the ministerial level, John Swinney has shown faith in two MSPs new to national politics. Hannah Mary Goodlad, the new MSP for Shetland Islands, has been given a high profile role as Minister for Public Finance, while former Edinburgh City Councillor Simita Kumar is the new Minister for Equalities and International Development.
The full cabinet and their ministers are:
John Swinney – First Minister
- Stephen Gethins – Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy
- Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans
Jenny Gilruth – Deputy First Minister and Finance
- Hannah Mary Goodlad, Minister for Public Finance (reporting jointly to the Deputy First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Public Services Reform)
Ivan McKee – Public Service Reform
Màiri McAllan – Education, Culture and Gaelic
- Siobhian Brown – Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise
- Ben Macpershon – Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education
Shirley-Anne Somerville – Social Justice and Housing
- Simita Kumar – Minister for Equalities and International Development
Gillian Martin – Climate Action and Rural Affairs
- Jim Fairlie – Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands
Stephen Flynn – Economy, Transport and Tourism
- Tom Arthur – Minister for Business and Fair Work
Angela Constance – Health
- Alison Thewliss – Minister for Community Care
- Maree Todd – Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs
Neil Gray – Justice
- Kirsten Oswald – Minister for Victims and Community Strategy