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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scottish cabinet reshuffle: John Swinney becomes education secretary | Scottish cabinet reshuffle: John Swinney becomes education secretary |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| John Swinney has become Scotland's new education secretary as part of Nicola Sturgeon's cabinet reshuffle. | John Swinney has become Scotland's new education secretary as part of Nicola Sturgeon's cabinet reshuffle. |
| Mr Swinney had been Scotland's finance secretary for the past nine years, as well as the country's deputy first minister - a role he will keep. | |
| Former Transport Secretary Derek Mackay was promoted to finance secretary, with Keith Brown becoming economy secretary. | Former Transport Secretary Derek Mackay was promoted to finance secretary, with Keith Brown becoming economy secretary. |
| Both roles had previously been filled by Mr Swinney, but have now been separated. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said the appointment of her most experienced minister to the role of education secretary demonstrated how important education was to her government. | |
| The SNP has faced criticism over the attainment gap between Scotland's wealthiest and most deprived pupils, with the country's education system also falling in international league tables. | |
| The first minister has pledged to create a "world class" education system in Scotland, with every child given the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of their background. | |
| She said: "John's record is exemplary, overseeing a succession of balanced budgets as well as delivering the recent fiscal framework deal that will underpin the new powers being devolved to the Scottish parliament. | |
| "His appointment to this crucial role demonstrates how important education is to my government." | |
| 'Challenges and opportunities' | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Mackay will have responsibility for the Scottish budget and the new tax and welfare powers that are due to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, in a role that has been described as being similar to the UK Chancellor. | |
| Mr Brown - who had been the infrastructure secretary - will be tasked with infrastructure projects, securing investment and supporting people into work, similar to the UK government's business secretary. | |
| The first minister had previously said that splitting the two roles was not a reflection on how they had been carried out in the past, but rather a "reflection of the challenges and opportunities we face in the future". | The first minister had previously said that splitting the two roles was not a reflection on how they had been carried out in the past, but rather a "reflection of the challenges and opportunities we face in the future". |
| Figures released earlier on Wednesday showed that unemployment has risen in Scotland for the third consecutive month and now stands at 6.2%, compared with 5.1% for the UK as a whole. | |
| Elsewhere in the reshuffle: | |
| Two long-standing ministers - Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead and Social justice minister Alex Neil - announced ahead of the reshuffle that they were stepping down from the cabinet. | Two long-standing ministers - Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead and Social justice minister Alex Neil - announced ahead of the reshuffle that they were stepping down from the cabinet. |
| Ms Sturgeon unveiled her new cabinet after being formally sworn in as first minister in a ceremony at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. | |
| She is to lead a minority SNP government, after the party won 63 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament election on 5 May. |