OPPOSITION parties have urged the newly appointed Cabinet to work together to tackle the big challenges of Covid-19 recovery and the climate emergency.

Following her formal appointment as First Minister on Tuesday afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her top team today, with an overhaul of the SNP front bench. 

Former ministers Fiona Hyslop and Fergus Ewing have left the front bench, while Deputy First Minister John Swinney was removed from the education role following Scotland’s exam scandal last year. 

He will now take up a new role as Covid Recovery Secretary, with other parties claiming Mr Swinney has “left a wake of damaging failures behind him.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Putting him in charge of our recovery is potentially gambling with the health and well-being of the nation. 

“While we wish him well, he must demonstrate quickly that he is up to the job.”

Former Westminster leader Angus Robertson will take on the government’s constitution brief, Shirley-Anne Somerville has been promoted to replace Mr Swinney, while Humza Yousaf will take over in health.

Kate Forbes will retain an expanded Finance Ministry role, Michael Matheson will take on the net-zero and energy briefs alongside transport, while Keith Brown, Shona Robison and Mairi Gougeon also join the front bench. 

Labour’s Anas Sarwar said that the government must be focused on recovery, calling for ministers to“take action to rectify the several failings of the previous government.”

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said that the MSPs must work together to tackle Covid-19 and the climate emergency, calling for an end to “the days of government saying one thing and ministers lobbying for the other behind the scenes.”