New Health and Justice Secretaries announced in Scottish cabinet reshuffle

By Lynsey Bews26th June 2018News ScotlandGovernment / Politics, News Scotland

Five Scottish ministers have been promoted as part of Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet reshuffle, including Jeane Freeman as Health Secretary and Humza Yousaf as Justice Secretary.

Ms Freeman, who handled the social security brief as a minister, takes over from Shona Robison, who resigned following pressure from opposition parties over her handling of the NHS.

Mr Yousaf, Transport Minister since 2016, takes over from Michael Matheson, and will lead on the delivery of new hate crime laws for Scotland.

Brexit Minister Michael Russell, Further Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville and Health Minister Aileen Campbell have also been given cabinet roles.

The First Minister said the new line-up would bring “fresh talent” to the Scottish Government.

She said the increase in size, from 10 to 12, reflected the increasing impact of Brexit on government business, and would ensure direct oversight of Scotland’s new social security system.

Mr Russell has been appointed to the newly created post of Government Business and Constitutional Relations Secretary.

He will oversee preparations for Brexit “in a way that protects Scotland’s interests”, the government said.

Ms Somerville has been appointed as Social Security Secretary, overseeing the operational delivery of the first devolved social security payments, while Health Minister Aileen Campbell becomes Communities and Local Government Secretary.

They effectively replace Angela Constance, who resigned from her brief covering communities, social security and equality.

Meanwhile Derek Mackay has retained his finance portfolio, with added responsibility for the economy following Economy Secretary Keith Brown’s departure.

Mr Matheson has been appointed as Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Secretary, while Fergus Ewing will continue as Rural Economy Secretary.

John Swinney, Roseanna Cunningham and Fiona Hyslop retain their current roles with responsibility for education, the environment and culture respectively.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The new cabinet I am announcing today brings fresh talent to the Scottish Government and ensures that we are fully equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the country in the months and years ahead.

“With the impact of Brexit on our economy and wider society, it is right that the issues it presents are fully reflected at cabinet level, while the delivery of a new Scottish social security system also requires a voice at the cabinet table.”

She added: “I will shortly be appointing a fully refreshed junior ministerial team, which will also include a number of fresh faces and a wealth of new talent.”

It has been announced that International Development Minister Alasdair Allan, Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing and Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt are leaving their roles.

In her resignation letter Ms Robison said it was an “immense privilege” to serve as Health Secretary for three-and-a-half years, “albeit at times very challenging and all-consuming”.

She said this year had also been “particularly challenging” personally with the loss of her parents, a health scare and “some big changes in my personal life”.

“I feel that I have reached a point in my life just now where I would be best to step down from a role in Government,” she said.

It was confirmed Mr Brown was stepping down from his cabinet post to focus on his new role as SNP depute leader.

The party said he would become the “standing campaign director” for the SNP with responsibility for policy development, preparing for elections and building the case for Scottish independence.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said while there were ministerial changes, “this is an SNP government that is tired, completely out of ideas and all over the place on key issues”.

Labour’s Rhoda Grant said: “This reshuffle is long overdue but the real change Scotland wants and needs won’t come from changing the odd Cabinet Secretary – it will come from changing the government.”