Jenny Gilruth has been appointed Scotland’s Deputy First Minister by John Swinney.
The former education secretary was the first to walk along Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square to the First Minister’s official residence at Bute House on Wednesday as he appoints his top team.
Ms Gilruth, a former teacher, will not continue on as education secretary, though it is not clear which brief she will be given alongside her role as second-in-command to Mr Swinney.
She described the appointment as “the greatest honour of my life”.
In a statement, she said: “We are coming into Government refreshed by the faith people have placed in us and determined to deliver on the job they have asked us to do – supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, giving people easier access to the NHS, and delivering a fresh start with independence.
“That is our task and it is one I will dedicate myself to delivering as Deputy First Minister, in a Scottish Government working for Scotland.”
Mr Swinney said: “Jenny Gilruth has already shown she can deliver for the people of Scotland, not least in averting damaging teachers strikes earlier this year.
“Now, as my Government takes on the emphatic mandate we were given by the people, she will play a central role in making sure we deliver on people’s priorities.”
Ms Gilruth replaces Kate Forbes, who left Holyrood at this month’s election, and is picked as Deputy First Minister ahead of a number of other candidates touted behind closed doors by the SNP, including Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan.
Ms McAllan was later seen entering Bute House and was asked by waiting journalists if she was disappointed not to get the job.
“Disappointed to serve my country? Never,” she responded to shouted questions.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was the only new face to make his way through the black door of Bute House, but he dismissed any suggestion he was after the First Minister’s job as “silly”.
It comes after the First Minister was sworn into the role for a second time on Wednesday morning.
He left the Court of Session just after 10am, flanked by his wife Elizabeth and teenage son Matthew.
Speaking to the Press Association after the ceremony, Mr Swinney said he would be a “First Minister for all of Scotland”.
He said: “It’s 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.
“It is a ceremony that connects the office I hold to the very origins of the Scottish state, so it’s 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 said his top priorities are to tackle the cost of living, improve the NHS and “give the people of Scotland the opportunity to decide on their own constitutional future”.
He added: “I pledged to be a First Minister that would serve all the people of Scotland, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
The SNP leader was elected as First Minister for the second time in Holyrood on Tuesday after his party won 58 seats at this month’s election.
He told MSPs he is “determined to get on with the job” in Holyrood, as he shook the hands of fellow party leaders following a series of votes, despite no other candidate looking likely to win the backing of a majority of MSPs.
His first task is filling gaps in his Cabinet filled by the retirement of a number of key ministers, including Ms Forbes and finance secretary Shona Robison.
Culture secretary Angus Robertson lost his seat in Edinburgh to the Scottish Greens and was not returned to Holyrood, so will also need to be replaced.
It is likely Mr Swinney will look to bring in fresh talent from the SNP benches to the Cabinet room, including former MPs Stephen Flynn – who was the party’s Westminster leader until he won his Scottish Parliament seat – Stephen Gethins and Alison Thewliss.
Cabinet appointments will face a confirmatory vote in Holyrood on Thursday.
