Kate Forbes becomes deputy first minister as John Swinney unveils Cabinet

The First Minister is facing criticism for retaining Humza Yousaf’s Cabinet

John Swinney has been accused of assembling a "continuity Cabinet” that would prove a "recipe for disappointment” as Kate Forbes was thrown back onto the frontline of Scottish politics after being named as the new First Minister’s deputy.

Mr Swinney, in his first act as First Minister after being sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, announced Ms Forbes, the former finance secretary, would deputise for him after Humza Yousaf’s second-in-command, Shona Robison, agreed to step aside to make way.

Ms Robison will retain her brief as finance secretary, while Ms Forbes will twin her role as Deputy First Minister with being responsible for the economy and Gaelic. Mr Swinney had made clear his intention to give Ms Forbes a top job if she backed down from entering any SNP leadership contest.

But other than the introduction of Ms Forbes, Mr Swinney has kept the same Cabinet as his predecessor – albeit with a few changes in responsibilities to make way for the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP – in an arrangement that was branded “a parade of familiar faces”.

Mairi McAllan. who will take maternity leave this summer, has lost her economy brief, but remains net zero and energy secretary. Jenny Gilruth was retained as education secretary, while Fiona Hyslop continues as transport secretary and Neil Gray holds on to the all-important health and social care portfolios.

Angela Constance was retained as justice secretary and Shirley-Anne Somerville remains across social justice. Mairi Gougeon has likewise been kept on the rural affairs porfolio and Angus Robertson continues as constitution and external affairs secretary.

But the appointment of Ms Forbes has caused some upset, particularly from the Scottish Greens, over her socially conservative views, including her opposition to equal marriage and couples having children out of wedlock. Ms Forbes's appointment will be regarded as a message to the right-wing of the SNP and could potentially shut off any immediate support from the Greens.

Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Greens, who tweeted a “no right turn” road sign after the announcement, claimed “there will be many people across our country who will be very concerned” at the move. He said voters “will want to know that this Scottish Government remains committed to a greener and more equal future for Scotland”.

“The Scotland that we want to build is one where everyone is free to be themselves and where climate action is at the forefront of our politics,” he said. “The First Minister must lay out his programme and his vision for Scotland, and where these values lie within it.”

Other opposition parties also criticised the return of Ms Forbes.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said her comeback was “a desperate attempt by both John Swinney and his new deputy to gloss over the huge splits in the SNP and fixate on independence”.

He said: “A year ago, Mr Swinney questioned whether Kate Forbes was an ‘appropriate individual’ to lead the SNP, but now he deems her fit to be his second-in-command. Similarly, Ms Forbes, who warned that ‘continuity won’t cut it’, has now joined a Cabinet with continuity at its core in return for a top job under Nicola Sturgeon’s right-hand man.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Once again the SNP is putting its own party interest before the country’s interest with this uninspiring reshuffle. This is a continuity Cabinet that cannot be trusted to fix the chaos and instability they have created. With two of the former finance secretaries responsible for trashing public finances now in the top jobs, more SNP chaos lies ahead.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton criticised Mr Swinney largely keeping the same front-bench team as his predecessor, warning that “relying on all the same ingredients is a recipe for disappointment”.

He said: “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.”

Mr Swinney said his Cabinet “blends experience and energy, with a strong focus on the priorities my Government will pursue”, pointing to “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,” he said.

“The Government I lead will maximise every lever at our disposal to tackle the scourge of poverty in our country.”

Ms Forbes said she was “deeply honoured” to be appointed as his deputy, describing it as an “extraordinary privilege”. She said: “I look forward to working with John and Cabinet colleagues, delivering for the people of Scotland and building a better country.”

The SNP's Kate Forbes is set to be offered a top job in John Swinney's Cabinet (Photo:Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

Alba Party leader Alex Salmond could hold the key to Humza Yousaf's political future (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

John Swinney in the main chamber after being voted in as First Minister