John Swinney's familiar Cabinet puts constitution on the backfoot as briefs get fresh eyes
Opponents will brand shake-up as rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, but First Minister is planning for the next five years
John Swinney's new-look Cabinet might look much the same - but giving his government’s policy briefs a fresh pair of eyes will do no harm as the SNP enters its third decade in government.
Despite mostly being the same people in Cabinet before the election as after the SNP’s latest victory, Mr Swinney is the only person who is keeping his job in its previous form.
The SNP’s political opponents will brand the shake-up as rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, but Mr Swinney is setting out his team for another five years in government.
Jenny Gilruth has been handed the top and grueling job of Scotland’s finance secretary. Ms Gilruth, who is no longer education secretary, has also been named Mr Swinney’s deputy first minister.
Although the deputy role is largely a ceremonial title, it plunges Ms Gilruth into the spotlight, potentially teeing her up for succeeding Mr Swinney when he decides to call it a day.
Ms Gilruth becomes the first openly LGBT person to be named deputy first minister - marking a stark contrast to her predecessor who caused controversy amongst many SNP members for her opposition to equal marriage.
Speaking of leadership rivals, Mr Swinney has brought Stephen Flynn, the former SNP Westminster leader, into his Cabinet, responsible for economy, tourism and transport.
This might not be as high-profile as other roles at first glance, but Mr Flynn being put in charge of the Scottish government’s controversial ferries will make his ability to dazzle in his first Cabinet role a very difficult task.
Ivan McKee, seen as a key ally of Mr Swinney, has essentially been handed a promotion - from his prominent role as public finance minister to cabinet secretary for public sector reform.
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That sounds very much like Mr McKee will be in charge of wielding the axe. The job title alone will likely have sent a shiver down the spine of trade unionists.
Now, he will have more focus on his role as the SNP government grapples with a near £5bn funding blackhole and vast savings and cuts targets. It therefore seems pretty incredible that he is not also finance secretary, given the two roles will clearly need to work hand in hand.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, one of Mr Swinney’s most experienced colleagues in government, has been given a huge brief - essentially taking on her previous social justice role including being responsible for Scotland’s welfare systems and will now add to that the difficult role of housing with Màiri McAllan moving to education .
Mr Swinney’s Cabinet is gender balanced - but the optics of four women leaving government in Shona Robison, Kate Forbes, Fiona Hyslop and Mairi Gougeon to be replaced by two men in Mr Flynn and Mr McKee, will not be lost on some people.
The other cabinet secretary not returning is Angus Robertson after losing his Edinburgh Central seat and his former brief of constitution, culture and external affairs has been distributed to Mr Swinney’s slimmed-down Cabinet.
It’s notable that the constitution, and essentially trying to push forward the Scottish government’s flailing independence strategy, no longer has a dedicated cabinet secretary.
Depending on your perspective, that could either be spun as Mr Swinney taking personal responsibility for independence or downgrading it with the prospects of separation looking unlikelier than ever.
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