Achi news desk-
Details of the junior government roles were released shortly before 10pm on Thursday evening.
Mr Swinney’s full team now includes 11 cabinet secretaries and 14 ministers. Mr Yousaf had 10 Cabinet Secretaries and 18 ministers.
READ MORE: ‘Cabinet continuity’: John Swinney retains Humza Yousaf ministers
Among the other posts to be abolished are the two held by the Scottish Gardens and the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.
Kaukab Stewart who held the post is now Minister for Equality.
Mr Swinney has also brought Ivan McKee back into government.
He quit last year after Mr Yousaf offered him a “smaller job”.
Glasgow Provan MSP – who was briefly campaign manager for Kate Forbes during the SNP leadership contest in 2023 – will be Minister for Public Finance.
Tom Arthur previously held that position. He has been moved to work under Ms Forbes as Minister for Employment and Investment.
Emma Roddick, who was minister for equalities, migration and refugees, Joe Fitzpatrick, who had been minister for empowerment and local government planning, and George Adam, who was previously parliamentary business minister, have all “given the superior to their previous roles.”
READ MORE: Brian Wilson: The duty of the opposition is to work to get rid of Swinney as soon as possible
The creation of the post of Minister for Independence was one of Mr Yousaf’s promises during the SNP leadership contest.
Responsibilities included “independence strategy, coordination and parliamentary coordination about devolution, independence and the constitutional future of Scotland, communication with people, businesses and organizations about devolution, independence and the constitutional future of Scotland”.
However, the position – which came with a £32,000 pay rise for Mr Hepburn – had been controversial.
Mr Hepburn’s main role was to produce the Building and New Scotland series of papers. It is not clear whether these will continue now that the situation is gone.
Mr Swinney’s decision to scrap the Independence Minister’s brief just months from the tenth anniversary of the 2014 referendum was criticized by Alex Salmond’s Alba.
Chris McEleny, the party’s general secretary, tweeted: “John Swinney’s first job has done away with the job of Minister for independence.
“Unfortunately, he can only have it one way. Was Jamie Hepburn robbing taxpayers so the Scottish Government could pretend it was serious about independence or is independence no longer a priority?”
