The
Scottish Parliament formally approved the appointments of
Kate Forbes and
Ivan McKee on 9 May 2024. Prior to Swinney's appointment, it was announced in February 2024 that
Màiri McAllan would be taking maternity leave. From 1 July 2024, McAllan began her maternity leave.
Gillian Martin was appointed as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, and
Alasdair Allan was appointed as Acting Minister for Climate Action. In June 2025, Swinney conducted a minor reshuffle following McAllan's return from maternity leave. Martin was appointed to the position of
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and McAllan was given the new post of
Cabinet Secretary for Housing. Dr Allan departed government as did
Minister for Housing,
Paul McLennan.
Maree Todd was made
Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport, filling the post which had been left vacant following the death of
Christina McKelvie in March 2025.
Tom Arthur replaced Todd as
Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing and his economy brief was absorbed by
Richard Lochhead who went from Minister for Business to
Minister for Business and Employment. In September 2025,
Jamie Hepburn resigned as
Minister for Parliamentary Business following an altercation with Conservative MSP
Douglas Ross in the parliamentary chamber. He was replaced by
Graeme Dey, who also retained his role as
Minister for Veterans.
Ben Macpherson rejoined the government as
Minister for Higher and Further Education (Dey's former role). ==Cabinet==