Highlands MSP Kate Forbes has been appointed deputy first minister by John Swinney and rejoined government in a move designed to unite the party.
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch is back in the heart of government after sitting out last year on the backbenches following her failed leadership bid.
Mr Swinney had promised to give Ms Forbes a significant role in his team when he announced his decision to run for the leadership last week.
She had been actively considering putting herself forward as leader but after talks with the Perthshire MSP later ruled herself out.
Former deputy first minister Shona Robison paved the way for the dramatic return to front line government by quitting the deputy post today in a reshuffle.
She will remain in cabinet as finance secretary – a brief she has held since March 2023.
The move to bring Ms Forbes into government is seen as an attempt to unify different factions of the SNP after a bruising 12 months for the party.
The rest of the cabinet remains unchanged from the appointments made under Humza Yousaf but Ms Forbes has also taken on the economy brief.
Junior ministers have also been appointed, with Ms Forbes’ fellow Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick leaving government after a spell as equalities minister.
Other sackings in the junior team include Joe Fitzpatrick as local government minister, as well as George Adam.
There will also be no minister for independence, with Jamie Hepburn set to replace Mr Adam as minister for parliamentary business.
‘Immensely talented’
Mr Swinney said: “I am very pleased to appoint Kate as deputy first minister and look forward to working with her in this new government.
“She is 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.”
Ms Forbes said she was “deeply honoured” by her new government appointment.
She added: “This is a moment of extraordinary privilege for me. Having previously served in cabinet, I know the duty that all ministers have to reflect the government’s priorities and the missions that drive them.
“I look forward to working with John and cabinet colleagues, delivering for the people of Scotland and building a better country.”
The 34-year-old from Dingwall has been an MSP since the 2016 Scottish Parliament election and served as finance secretary from 2020 to 2023.
But Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie, who served in government with Ms Forbes from 2021 to 2022, hit out after her appointment as deputy.
He said: “There will be many people across our country who will be very concerned and who will want to know that this Scottish Government remains committed to a greener and more equal future for Scotland.”
Kate Forbes rise, fall…and rise again
It was just over four years ago when Ms Forbes was thrust into the spotlight as the first woman to deliver the Scottish Budget since devolution.
It followed the resignation of shamed former finance secretary Derek Mackay in February 2020, after it emerged he sent inappropriate text messages to a 16-year old boy.
The Highlands MSP was widely praised for her performance after having just hours to prepare in unprecedented circumstances.
As Scotland’s first female finance secretary, she built up a reputation for working positively with the business community and being in command of her brief.
She also became the first cabinet secretary to take maternity leave after giving birth to daughter Naomi in August 2022.
She was on leave during Nicola Sturgeon’s shock resignation and very quickly had to decide if she wanted to throw her hat in the ring after emerging as a frontrunner.
But her campaign was left in meltdown within 24 hours of launching as supporters backtracked over some of her views on social issues.
She was criticised after admitting her conscience would not have allowed her to vote in favour of same-sex marriage.
In one particularly heated televised debate, she attacked Humza Yousaf on his record in government, causing some in the party to criticise her.
But the SNP MSP’s bid won the support of many within her party and she came very close to beating Mr Yousaf, securing 48% of the vote.
Offered the rural affairs brief in his new government, Ms Forbes turned it down and retreated to the backbenches.
In an exclusive interview with the P&J in September, she opened up about her experience with postnatal depression in the months following her daughter’s birth.
After a tumultuous 12 months for Mr Yousaf, and following a decision to ditch the Greens from his government, he announced on April 29 he would resign.
Ms Forbes and Mr Swinney quickly emerged as the two frontrunners in the race.
But after private talks between the pair, and a promise of a “significant” role in his government, Ms Forbes stepped back.
Now, after a whirlwind few years, she has managed to secure a key role in his cabinet.
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