(17/2/20) – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined new appointments to the Scottish Government and cabinet.

Following her delivery of the Scottish Budget, Kate Forbes has been nominated as Cabinet Secretary for Finance, while Fiona Hyslop will build on a hugely successful period as External Affairs Secretary by taking responsibility for the economy as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture.

As the process of Brexit, and the discussion on Scotland’s constitutional future move into a new phase, Michael Russell’s responsibilities will be expanded as Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs.

Fergus Ewing will take on responsibility for tourism as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism.

Jenny Gilruth has been nominated to join the Government as Minister for Europe and International Development, where she will support Michael Russell.

Ben Macpherson will move to join the Finance team as Minister for Public Finance and Migration – where they will continue to make the strong economic and social case for a distinct migration policy for Scotland.

Mr Macpherson will also work on issues around green and climate finance, to help ensure all of Scotland can deliver on our target of ending our contribution to climate change. He will also be tasked with ensuring that wellbeing sits at the heart of the budget process.

The First Minister will propose the appointment of Kate Forbes to Cabinet and of Jenny Gilruth as a Minister to the Scottish Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday).

Unveiling her new cabinet and government appointments, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“These appointments bring new talent into government and deliver a real focus, not only on driving forward our economy, but also on addressing the challenges of Brexit, increasing our population and ending Scotland’s contribution to the climate crisis.

“I am pleased to make these appointments and – in particular – to be able to put Scotland’s finances and Scotland’s economy into the hands of two incredibly talented colleagues.

“Fiona Hyslop has been an outstanding Cabinet Secretary, delivering a successful expansion of Scotland’s overseas presence and recognition, supporting our booming tourism industry and demonstrating the huge importance of culture – not just to our economy, but more importantly to who we are and how we see ourselves.

“I know she will bring that drive, passion and sharp focus to Scotland’s economy. Working alongside Kate Forbes as the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, she will continue to drive forward our economy, support our key industries and maintain Scotland’s long tradition as an outward-looking, dynamic and enterprising nation.

“Ben Macpherson will continue to make the case for Scotland to have a distinct migration system in order to meet our economic, social and financial needs – and as Public Finance Minister will also take the lead on identifying ways to fund climate action, and he will work across government to build a wellbeing economy.

“Jenny Gilruth will join government for the first time – having proven herself as a talented and hard-working MSP – and takes on the role of Minister for Europe and International Development. She will have the important task of promoting Scotland, building new links in a post-Brexit environment and delivering on our global responsibilities – and I know she is more than up to that challenge.”

New Appointments
•Cabinet Secretary for Finance – Kate Forbes (who also retains her current responsibility for the Digital Economy)
•Public Finance and Migration – Ben Macpherson
•Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Fair Work and Culture – Fiona Hyslop
•Minister for Europe and International Development – Jenny Gilruth

New Responsibilities

•Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs – Michael Russell
•Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism – Fergus Ewing

Article Source: Scot Gov Website >> https://www.gov.scot/news/cabinet-appointments/

First Minister: “Democracy must and will prevail.”

The democratic case for Scotland having the ability to choose its own constitutional future is published today in a new document.

The paper – entitled “Scotland’s Right to Choose: Putting Scotland’s Future in Scotland’s Hands” – lays out the detailed case for how and why the country should be able to have the choice of independence in a referendum.

The document includes a specific call on the UK Government to “enter discussions about the Scottish Government’s mandate for giving the people of Scotland a choice, and to agree legislation with the Scottish Government that would put beyond doubt the Scottish Parliament’s right to legislate for a referendum on independence.”

Launching the document at Bute House in Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“It is a fundamental democratic principle that decisions on Scotland’s constitutional future should rest with the people who live here.

“As this document lays out, the Scottish Government has a clear democratic mandate to offer people a choice on that future in an independence referendum, and the UK Government has a democratic duty to recognise that. Last week’s General Election has only strengthened that mandate.

“Today, I am publishing the constitutional and democratic case for Scotland having that choice.

“It is rooted in the principle of self-determination, in the material change of circumstances since the 2014 exercise of that right, and in the democratic mandate that exists for offering the choice afresh.

“In a voluntary association of nations such as the UK, it cannot be in the interest of any part for our right to choose our own future to be conditional, or time limited or a one-off.

“Nor is it right for it to be over-ridden by a Prime Minister, or indeed a First Minister.

“It is a fundamental right of self-determination. The ability for Scotland to exercise that right now matters because the alternative is a future we have rejected.

“The mandate we have to offer the Scottish people a choice over their future is, by any normal standard of democracy, unarguable.”

The First Minister added:

“We are therefore today calling for the UK Government to negotiate and agree the transfer of power that would put beyond doubt the Scottish Parliament’s right to legislate for a referendum on independence.

“Together with the constitutional and democratic case for that transfer of power, we are also publishing the draft legislation that would give effect to it.

“Of course, I anticipate that in the short term we will simply hear a restatement of the UK Government’s opposition. But they should be under no illusion that this will be an end of the matter.

“In this context, the question is often posed to me – what will you do if the Prime Minister says no?

“But the document we are publishing today turns the question on its head.

“It is for the Prime Minister to defend why he believes the UK is not a voluntary union of equal nations. It is for him to set out why he does not believe people in Scotland have the right to self-determination.

“And it is for the Prime Minister to explain why he believes it is acceptable to ignore election after election in Scotland and to over-ride a democratic mandate stronger than the one he claims for his Brexit deal.

“We live in a democracy, and ultimately democracy must and will prevail.”

VIEW THE FULL PDF DOCUMENT ON THE SCOT GOV WEBSITE:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/publication/2019/12/scotlands-right-choose-putting-scotlands-future-scotlands-hands/documents/scotlands-right-to-choose-putting-scotlands-future-in-scotlands-hands/scotlands-right-to-choose-putting-scotlands-future-in-scotlands-hands/govscot%3Adocument/scotlands-right-choose-putting-scotlands-future-scotlands-hands.pdf