RETURNING SNP leader John Swinney has been sworn-in as Scotland’s seventh First Minister

In a ceremony presided over by the Lord President, Lord Carloway, and in the company of his wife, son and brother, Mr Swinney took the oaths for the role of First Minister, the Keeper of the Great Seal and of allegiance to the King.

Speaking afterwards, he called the experience “overwhelming,” adding: “I look forward to dedicating my future to serving the people of Scotland.”

That future came fast, as he returned to the his official residence of Bute House to summon the team that would form his cabinet.

All of those called had held posts within the government of Mr Swinney’s predecessor Humza Yousaf, with one exception: Kate Forbes.

It had been widely expected that Mr Swinney would face a challenge for the leadership from Ms Forbes, but after a meeting between the pair a week ago, and after he heaped praise upon her at his campaign launch, she withdrew.

Making good on that promise, Ms Forbes was among the first to be summoned and offered the role of Deputy First Minister.

The appointment will be seen as a peace offering to SNP members disaffected by the party’s liberal direction of travel while in coalition with the Greens, and represents a comeback for Ms Forbes, who was relegated from finance minister to backbencher after narrowly losing last year’s bitter SNP leadership contest.

In a statement, Ms Forbes said she was “deeply honoured to accept” the appointment, adding: “I look forward to working with John and cabinet colleagues, delivering for the people of Scotland and building a better country.”

Former coalition partner and Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie was however less than impressed, saying many people will be concerned at Forbes’s appointment considering her views on issues such as equal marriage and gender self-ID.

He said: “When it comes to delivering fairer and more progressive taxation, a just transition from oil and gas and a watertight ban on so-called conversion therapy, it is vital that this government does not dilute the longstanding commitments that it has made.

“The First Minister must lay out his programme and his vision for Scotland, and where these values lie within it.”