Scotland's leader brings back ex-finance minister as deputy

Scotland's new First Minister John Swinney on Wednesday appointed ex-finance minister Kate Forbes as his deputy, keeping a promise to bring the former SNP leadership contender back into government.

Swinney, 60, was elected unopposed as Scottish National Party leader on Monday, vowing to unify the pro-independence party that has been riven with increasing ideological infighting over policy.

Forbes, the 34-year-old former finance minister in the SNP-led administration in Edinburgh, stood for the leadership in March 2023 after Nicola Sturgeon's surprise resignation.

But she lost out in the contest to Humza Yousaf who then offered her a more junior role as rural affairs minister, which she refused.

Yousaf, 39, resigned last week after a furore caused by his decision to end a ruling coalition with the Scottish Green Party because of a row over watered-down climate goals.

Forbes opted not to stand against Swinney this time round, in the hope of a plum role in his administration.

Swinney said last week that he wanted Forbes "to play a significant part" in his administration as he lauded her as "an intelligent, creative, thoughtful person who has much to contribute to our national life".

She has faced questions about whether she would back flagship SNP policies on issues such as trans rights because of her socially conservative views.

After a meeting at the first minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh, Forbes called the appointment "an extraordinary privilege".

"I look forward to working with John and cabinet colleagues, delivering for the people of Scotland and building a better country," she added.

The SNP is two short of a majority in the 129-seat Scottish Parliament, which has powers to set policy in Scotland in areas such as transport, the environment, health and education.

Shorn of the Greens pact, that means it is reliant on other parties to pass legislation.

Swinney said this week he remains committed to the ultimate goal of independence for Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom.

But the issue commands less public support now than under Sturgeon, who seized on majority opposition in Scotland to the UK's departure from the European Union to push for a breakaway.

But she saw her efforts hamstrung by a UK Supreme Court ruling that Scotland could not hold even a consultative referendum on the matter without London's approval.

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