Thursday May 21st 2026
Scottish Parliament
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Recently nominated First Minister of Scotland John Swinney has appointed his new Cabinet, unveiling a streamlined team of Cabinet Secretaries to ‘deliver on the things that matter most to the people of Scotland’.
Comprising eight Cabinet Secretaries, including the Deputy First Minister, the First Minister has said his Cabinet will focus on the priorities of the people, including supporting people through the cost of living crisis, ensuring easier access to the NHS and delivering a fresh start with independence.
The focused and streamlined Cabinet will include the first ever Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, who will lead cross-government work to ensure public services are responsive to the needs of the people of Scotland.
Responsibility for independence and the constitution will now sit directly with the First Minister.
The Cabinet, which is made up of a majority of women, consists of:
– Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Jenny Gilruth
– Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform Ivan McKee
– Cabinet Secretary for Justice Neil Gray
– Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care Angela Constance
– Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Gillian Martin
– Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic Màiri McAllan
– Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing Shirley-Anne Somerville
– Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn
Labelling his government as ‘leaner and more agile’, FM John Swinney explained:
“I am immensely proud to appoint this Cabinet with the experience, energy and drive to deliver on the mandate given to us by the people of Scotland. This will be a Scottish Government working for Scotland.
“Our full focus will be on delivering on the things that matter most to the people of Scotland, including supporting people with the cost of living crisis, ensuring easier access to the NHS and delivering a fresh start with independence.
“This new team will hit the ground running, delivering major progress on our priorities within the first 100 days, before continuing to deliver on the emphatic mandate given to us by the people of Scotland.
“This team of Cabinet Secretaries will bring experience, drive and a determination to deliver for Scotland – and this government will work harder than ever to repay the trust that people have placed in us.”
Alongside the new Cabinet, Swinney has appointed Scottish Ministers.
Tweet Share on FacebookThe Scottish Government now consists of eleven Ministers:
– Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Energy, Stephen Gethins
– Minister for Parliamentary Business & Veterans, Jamie Hepburn
– Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad (reporting jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform)
– Minister for Community Care, Alison Thewliss
– Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol & Drugs, Maree Todd
– Minister for Victims & Community Safety, Kirsten Oswald
– Minister for Agriculture, Marine & the Islands, Jim Fairlie
– Minister for Children, Young People, & The Promise, Siobhian Brown
– Minister for Innovation, Technology & Tertiary Education, Ben Macpherson
– Minister for Equalities & International Development, Simita Kumar
– Minister for Business & Fair Work, Tom Arthur
