Brankin was
Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport in the
Scottish Executive from 1999 to 2000 and
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development from 2000 to 2001. In October 2004 she was appointed Deputy Minister for
Health and
Community care, returning to the Environment and Rural Development portfolio in June 2005. In January 2007 she was promoted to
Minister for Communities after the resignation of
Malcolm Chisholm. Following Labour's defeat at the hands of the SNP at the May 2007 election, Brankin became shadow Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning. She was convener of the Public Petitions Committee from June 2010. Prior to the 2011 elections, Brankin announced her decision not to stand for re-election, retiring from Holyrood after 12 years. The Midlothian constituency underwent boundary changes, and the two new constituencies created,
Midlothian North and Musselburgh, and
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, were won by the SNP. ==References==