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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Brankin to fill communities post | Brankin to fill communities post |
| (1 day later) | |
| Rhona Brankin has been appointed as Scotland's new communities minister. | Rhona Brankin has been appointed as Scotland's new communities minister. |
| The move is a promotion for the Midlothian MSP, who previously served as the deputy environment minister. | The move is a promotion for the Midlothian MSP, who previously served as the deputy environment minister. |
| She replaces Malcolm Chisholm, who was forced to quit before Christmas after voting with the SNP to oppose the replacement of Trident. | She replaces Malcolm Chisholm, who was forced to quit before Christmas after voting with the SNP to oppose the replacement of Trident. |
| Sarah Boyack will move from the backbenches into the post of deputy environment minister, ending her five-year exile from ministerial duty. | |
| Ms Brankin, 56, a former education lecturer who first took up her current Midlothian seat in 1999, said she was "delighted" to have been given the job. | Ms Brankin, 56, a former education lecturer who first took up her current Midlothian seat in 1999, said she was "delighted" to have been given the job. |
| First Minister Jack McConnell confirmed that her "immediate priority" would be to deliver the executive's strategy on helping Scotland face up to its increasingly ageing population. | First Minister Jack McConnell confirmed that her "immediate priority" would be to deliver the executive's strategy on helping Scotland face up to its increasingly ageing population. |
| "There are some challenging times ahead but I'm particularly pleased we have got a responsibility to publish a document recognising the benefits of our ageing population as well as some of the challenges," Ms Brankin added. | "There are some challenging times ahead but I'm particularly pleased we have got a responsibility to publish a document recognising the benefits of our ageing population as well as some of the challenges," Ms Brankin added. |
| "But of course we've also got some exciting work to be done with young people, volunteering and tackling a range of issues." | "But of course we've also got some exciting work to be done with young people, volunteering and tackling a range of issues." |
| We're got some exciting work to be done with young people, volunteering and tackling a range of issues Rhona Brankin Communities minister | We're got some exciting work to be done with young people, volunteering and tackling a range of issues Rhona Brankin Communities minister |
| Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, said he hoped Ms Brankin would show as much commitment to housing and homelessness issues as her predecessor had. | Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland, said he hoped Ms Brankin would show as much commitment to housing and homelessness issues as her predecessor had. |
| "It is imperative Ms Brankin, along with the deputy minister Des McNulty, makes the case for more housing for Scotland and delivers the increased investment for the affordable housing that Scotland desperately needs," he added. | "It is imperative Ms Brankin, along with the deputy minister Des McNulty, makes the case for more housing for Scotland and delivers the increased investment for the affordable housing that Scotland desperately needs," he added. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, deputy SNP leader, wished Ms Brankin well but used the appointment as an opportunity to tackle the First Minister on his Trident policy. | Nicola Sturgeon, deputy SNP leader, wished Ms Brankin well but used the appointment as an opportunity to tackle the First Minister on his Trident policy. |
| "The hard fact is that her appointment came about only because Mr McConnell couldn't stand to have anyone with integrity in his cabinet and forced Malcolm Chisholm out," she said. | "The hard fact is that her appointment came about only because Mr McConnell couldn't stand to have anyone with integrity in his cabinet and forced Malcolm Chisholm out," she said. |
| Courting controversy | Courting controversy |
| Ms Brankin's most recent promotion comes after many years in deputy positions. | Ms Brankin's most recent promotion comes after many years in deputy positions. |
| She was appointed as deputy culture and sport minister when she was first elected, moved to the post of deputy environment and rural development minister a year later, and in 2001 courted controversy over fishing boat decommissioning, prompting angry fishermen to burn an effigy of her. | She was appointed as deputy culture and sport minister when she was first elected, moved to the post of deputy environment and rural development minister a year later, and in 2001 courted controversy over fishing boat decommissioning, prompting angry fishermen to burn an effigy of her. |
| Though she later lost her job when Mr McConnell formed his first cabinet in November that year, she returned three years later as deputy health minister. | Though she later lost her job when Mr McConnell formed his first cabinet in November that year, she returned three years later as deputy health minister. |
| In this post, the former special needs teacher hit out at dentists for leaving the NHS and creating drastic shortages, accusing one who moved 1,000 patients out of the NHS of "a political stunt". | In this post, the former special needs teacher hit out at dentists for leaving the NHS and creating drastic shortages, accusing one who moved 1,000 patients out of the NHS of "a political stunt". |
| The following year she returned to her old job as deputy environment minister where she unveiled an ambitious strategy to expand Scotland's forest industry. | The following year she returned to her old job as deputy environment minister where she unveiled an ambitious strategy to expand Scotland's forest industry. |
| She is married with two grown-up daughters. | She is married with two grown-up daughters. |