John Swinney, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has named Kate Forbes as his Deputy First Minister, as he shapes his cabinet. In the SNP leadership race last year, Forbes considered challenging Humza Yousaf, but decided instead to support Swinney who had guaranteed her a pivotal role in his government. Swinney used the promise of party unity to secure his role as SNP leader after Yousaf.
On Wednesday, Forbes was the first to arrive at Swinney’s official Edinburgh residence as the cabinet was formed. Accepting the role of Deputy First Minister with gratitude, she expressed her commitment to uphold government priorities and work towards a better Scotland. Forbes takes over from Shona Robison and is ready to shoulder the responsibilities of the cabinet, the details of which will be confirmed later.
Swinney expressed his satisfaction about Forbes’s appointment, attributing importance to her role in the achievement of key commitments, such as child-poverty eradication, public service investment, and economic growth.
Upon the announcement, Patrick Harvie, Co-leader of the Scottish Green Party, urged Swinney to stay true to his party’s policies while in power. As per Harvie, the public would appreciate an assurance of the Scottish government’s commitment to a greener and more equitable future for the nation. He emphasised the necessity of not diluting the well-established pledges of the government, citing examples of progressive taxation, a just transition from oil and gas, and a complete ban on conversion therapy. Additionally, Harvie shared a symbolic ‘no right turn’ image on social media, insinuating that the new government should avoid making policy shifts to the right.