Scotland: Jenny Gilruth expected to become Deputy First Minister in new SNP team
Scotland cabinet secretary John Swinney is expected to name Jenny Gilruth as Scotland’s deputy First Minister, as he restructures the SNP Cabinet after last month’s Scottish Parliament election. Gilruth was seen arriving at Bute House in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning, as Swinney prepares to make announcements about his ministerial team as he enters his second term as First Minister.Jenny Gilruth is now Education Secretary but it is unclear what portfolio she will hold going forward, as reported by The Independent. Gilruth, if appointed, will take the place of Kate Forbes, who recently resigned from her Holyrood seat. According to reports, Swinney chose Gilruth over a number of other senior SNP politicians, including Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan.Swiney was sworn in during a ceremony held on Wednesday morning at the Court of Session. In his statement, he explained that the occasion was a deeply profound one due to its significance as far as Scotland is concerned.“It’s a very moving ceremony to take part in at the Court of Session, to be appointed by the court as the First Minister of Scotland,” he said. “It is a ceremony that connects the office I hold to the very origins of the Scottish state, so it’s a deeply precious moment for me, and a reminder of the significant responsibilities that I carry as First Minister, which I faithfully carry out on behalf of the people of our country,” he added.Swinney’s government plans to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, reforming the NHS and granting the Scots the chance to make decisions concerning their constitutional future. “I pledged to be a First Minister that would serve all the people of Scotland, and that’s exactly what I intend to do,” he added to his statement.The Parliament of Scotland elected Swinney as First Minister again following the SNP’s winning 58 seats. A number of cabinet ministers have stepped back from the political limelight lately; these include Finance Secretary Shona Robison, while Angus Robertson, the Culture Secretary, lost his seat to the Scottish Greens.The newly elected SNP government could be expected to appoint ex-MPs Stephen Flynn, Stephen Gethins and Alison Thewliss to the cabinet. Voting for confirming these appointments is expected to take place at Holyrood on Thursday.
