Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf insisted he was delighted with his new cabinet today amid fury at his appointment of a Minister for Independence funded by UK taxpayers.
The new SNP leader was accused of installing a publicly-funded ‘nationalist campaigner’ in the heart of his government as he made his debut at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.
He created the role yesterday and installed ally James Hepburn in it. But unionists have questioned why the public purse was footing the bill for the SNP’s separatist drive, with the salary worth around £30,000 on top of MSP pay.
Tory leader Douglas Ross questioned why the role had been created, while special roles covering social security and tourism were abolished.
‘On Tuesday, in a call with the Prime Minister, he demanded another independence vote, and yesterday he appointed a Minister for Independence – a taxpayer-funded nationalist campaigner,’ he said.
‘Instead of looking for cooperation between Scotland’s two governments he’s looking for a fight.
But Mr Yousaf brazenly told the Scottish Parliament: ‘I am delighted to have appointed a cabinet and a government that is focused on the priorities of the Scottish people.’
The new SNP leader was accused of installing a publicly-funded ‘nationalist campaigner’ in the heart of his Government as he made his debut at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.
He created the role yesterday and installed ally James Hepburn (left) in it. But Tory leader Douglas Ross questioned why the role had been created, while special roles covering social security and tourism were abolished.
The job was branded a ‘desperate campaign tactic’ to placate restive party activists, after Mr Yousaf used his first call with Rishi Sunak to make another demand for a referendum – and was bluntly knocked back.
The row erupted as Mr Yousaf completely overhauled Nicola Sturgeon’s Cabinet, with only two ministers retaining their former roles.
There was no place for former finance secretary Kate Forbes, who turned down a demotion to the rural affairs remit that was dismissed as ‘insulting’ by allies.
Business minister Ivan McKee, who initially supported Ms Forbes in the leadership contest and was well regarded by industry bosses, also left government yesterday after being offered a ‘lesser role’.
Other departures included local government minister Ben Macpherson, who walked out after failing to secure a post in the new Cabinet.
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: ‘The appointment of a taxpayer-funded minister for separation is an insult to the people of Scotland and demonstrates the warped priorities of the new First Minister.
‘Humza Yousaf promised to act in the ‘interests of all our citizens’, but he has already failed his first test.
‘The idea of creating this post was nothing but a desperate campaign tactic to appeal to hardcore SNP activists.
‘If the SNP leader wants to waste money like this, the additional cost should be paid by his party – not the Scottish public.’
Ms Forbes was replaced as finance secretary by Shona Robison, who has been an MSP since 1999 and previously worked in Dundee City Council’s social work department.
Alex Neil, a former health secretary who supported Ms Forbes’ leadership bid and branded the demotion offered to her as an ‘insult’, said: ‘It seems that the two best economic brains in the Government have been sidelined. That is my concern, a political concern, because I don’t see anyone else who has got their capability of persuading people of the economic case for independence.
‘Ivan McKee was a very good business minister, highly respected in the business community, and I can’t think of anyone else who has his experience in business and the respect that he was held in by the business community, and that is a loss to the SNP with him going to the backbenches. And obviously Kate, who was highly respected as a finance minister, her not being in government is a big loss as well.
‘When you lose people who know about business, who have actually had experience of business and who are respected by the business community, then clearly it makes it much more challenging to persuade the business community to at least consider independence, and indeed to persuade them that the government is knowledgeable, sympathetic and empathetic towards their needs.’
He added: ‘The lack of people who understand business will be a major concern. You’ve got to get a balance in government and you’ve got to take the business community with you because clearly we want Scotland’s economy to grow and provide job opportunities of tomorrow.’
An SNP source lamented the departure from government of Mr Macpherson, saying: ‘He’s been the most messed-about minister, he will have expected to be in the Cabinet and not at all happy that the two Mairis are there and not him. He’s one of the few non-idiots that was available.’
When he announced his Cabinet, Mr Yousaf gave Shona Robison, the Deputy First Minister, responsibility for finance.
But he gave Ms Forbes’ previous economy portfolio to Neil Gray under a rebranded role as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy. The Scottish Greens do not believe that economic growth is a sensible measure of the economy, although the role of GDP measurements is excluded from the partnership agreement with the SNP.
Despite the change in the job title, a spokesman for Mr Yousaf said: ‘Growth is still an important part of how you measure the economy and it is still excluded from the Bute House Agreement.’
Robert Kilgour, chief executive of Dow Investments, yesterday condemned Mr Yousaf’s reshuffle and the removal of Ms Forbes and Mr McKee from government. He said: ‘There is a huge lack of business experience. This is very frustrating and disappointing and sadly sends a very negative message to Scottish business leaders about the new administration’s likely priorities at such a difficult and challenging time for most Scottish businesses.
‘The Scottish public’s priorities are economic recovery and improved public services not the SNP Scottish Government’s failure smokescreen with their Indyref2 fixation deflecting attention from the many failures in their day job activities, which is after all what they are well paid for by Scottish taxpayers.
Mr Yousaf posed with his family on the steps of Bute House after being sworn in yesterday
Polls have been showing majority support among Scots for staying in the UK
‘This is a very blinkered and short-sighted approach – they should focus on delivery and on a genuine reset in the crucial relationship/partnership with Scottish business and entrepreneurs.’
But David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, struck a more hopeful tone.
He said: ‘Shona Robison and Neil Gray are experienced ministers and parliamentarians and each has a proven track record in government. Their appointments come at a pivotal moment for the economy after three years of fallout from the pandemic and the costs crunch affecting both households and firms.
‘As such we look forward to working positively and constructively with the new Cabinet and ministerial team to bolster the recovery and keep down the cost of living and cost of doing business.’
Ms Robison yesterday claimed that Ms Forbes turned down a role in Cabinet because she wanted a better work-life balance.
Mr Yousaf had offered his leadership rival the rural affairs remit after opting to not retain her as Finance Secretary.
