John Swinney cabinet called ‘uninspired’ as Kate Forbes returns

John Swinney has put Kate Forbes at the heart of his government as critics condemned an “uninspiring reshuffle” which returned an almost entirely unchanged cabinet.

The new first minister was accused of offering “more of the same” after failing to rejuvenate his ministerial team with a raft of new faces. Opponents claim SNP rhetoric about reforming government in the wake of Humza Yousaf’s resignation has been undermined at the first opportunity with Swinney unveiling a “continuity cabinet”.

Forbes, who returned to the Scottish government as the youngest ever deputy first minister after more than a year on the backbenches, replaces Shona Robison, the only switch from Yousaf’s cabinet.

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She also takes over the economy brief — another sign that she will carry sway over the new administration.

The post of minister for independence has also been dropped by Swinney in his first ministerial team, which was announced late on Wednesday night.

Jamie Hepburn, who previously held the post, takes over from George Adam as minister for parliamentary business. The role of minister for independence, the first of its kind, was created by the Yousaf when he appointed his first team last year.

The team of 14 ministers includes one new face, Ivan McKee, an ally of Forbes who returns to government as minister for public finance. Two others were sacked — Yousaf’s close colleague Joe FitzPatrick, who was planning minister, and the Highland MSP Emma Roddick, who was equalities minister.

Forbes, the 34-year-old, a former Holyrood finance secretary, had been tipped to run for the SNP leadership again after Yousaf stood down just over a week ago, but agreed a deal to back Swinney — who went on to claim the position of party leader unopposed.

Allies of the new first minister last week suggested he was worried about the prospect of facing a leadership race before reaching agreement with Forbes.

Some cabinet secretaries believe that he conceded too much in order to secure her backing. One senior SNP figure praised Forbes’s negotiation skills for securing a key cabinet role and said it puts her in a “stronger position than she has ever been to lead the party”.

When announcing her support for Swinney, Forbes said it was “the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs … and advocate for that reform agenda within the Scottish government”.

However, several SNP figures believe Swinney has wasted an opportunity to capitalise on the political goodwill he holds immediately after taking up office. The new first minister retained Yousaf’s entire cabinet.

The Scottish Greens, whose sacking from government was the catalyst for Yousaf’s resignation, warned the SNP not to “dilute the longstanding commitments that it has made” to “progressive” taxation and issues such as a ban on conversion therapy.

Patrick Harvie, the co-leader of the Greens who served with Forbes in government for more than 18 months, said “a lot of people will be concerned” about her appointment unless Swinney recommitted his government to “progressive” policies on climate, social rights and taxation.

Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, said Swinney had assembled a “continuity cabinet”, adding: “Once again the SNP is putting its own party interest before the country’s interest with this uninspiring reshuffle.”

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative chairman, said: “This is simply Humza Yousaf’s cabinet with a different figurehead.”

Forbes said it was a “moment of extraordinary privilege” to return to the cabinet. After Yousaf’s victory over her in last year’s bitter leadership battle she turned down a demotion from finance secretary to the rural affairs brief and moved to the back benches.

Swinney said Forbes was “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”. He said his cabinet “blends experience and energy”.

Robison, who made way for Forbes by resigning as deputy first minister, remains as finance secretary.
There was next to no other movement in Swinney’s top team, with Forbes’s addition taking it up to 11 members. Màiri McAllan, who lost her responsibility for the economy to Forbes, is now the net zero and energy secretary.

All other posts remained the same, with Jenny Gilruth staying on as education secretary, Neil Gray in health, Angela Constance in charge of justice, Fiona Hyslop in transport, Shirley-Anne Somerville staying social justice secretary and Mairi Gougeon retaining responsibility for rural affairs.

Swinney reduced the size of his government by four ministers overall as he abolished junior posts, including the role of minister for independence.

As he finalised his cabinet appointments, he had a short phone call with Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, during which the pair pledged to “work constructively” together on areas where the Scottish and UK governments could find agreement.

Earlier in the day, Swinney was sworn in as Scotland’s first minister in what he said was an “overwhelming moment”.

Lord Carloway, the lord president and the most senior judge in Scotland, presided over the ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh where Swinney made his statutory declarations and was granted his official title of first minister and keeper of the Scottish Seal. His wife, Elizabeth, his brother David and his 13-year-old son Matthew accompanied him to court.