Scotland's cabinet secretary John Swinney is anticipated to name Jenny Gilruth as the country's deputy First Minister as he reshuffles the SNP Cabinet following last month's Scottish Parliament election. Gilruth was observed arriving at Bute House in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning, as Swinney prepares to unveil changes to his ministerial team at the start of his second term as First Minister.
Jenny Gilruth currently serves as Education Secretary, but it remains unclear what portfolio she will assume moving forward, as reported by The Independent. If appointed, Gilruth would succeed Kate Forbes, who recently resigned her Holyrood seat. According to reports, Swinney selected Gilruth over several other senior SNP politicians, including Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan.
Swinney was sworn in during a ceremony held on Wednesday morning at the Court of Session. In his statement, he described the occasion as deeply profound due to its significance for Scotland.
"It is 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 is 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 address the cost-of-living crisis, reform the National Health Service (NHS), and provide Scots with the opportunity to make decisions regarding their constitutional future. "I pledged to be a First Minister that would serve all the people of Scotland, and that is exactly what I intend to do," he added in his statement.
The Parliament of Scotland elected Swinney as First Minister again after the SNP secured 58 seats. Several cabinet ministers have recently stepped back from the political limelight, including Finance Secretary Shona Robison, while Culture Secretary Angus Robertson lost his seat to the Scottish Greens.
The newly elected SNP government may appoint former MPs Stephen Flynn, Stephen Gethins, and Alison Thewliss to the cabinet. Voting to confirm these appointments is expected to take place at Holyrood on Thursday.
