Fiona Hyslop becomes transport minister as Humza Yousaf changes Scottish Government portfolios

Former culture secretary Fiona Hyslop has been appointed as Scotland's new transport minister following the resignation of Kevin Stewart.

Stewart stepped down from the post citing mental health reasons. The change promoted calls for Yousaf to expand the transport role and take it back into cabinet. Now the Scottish Government has confirmed that the portfolio will be restored as a cabinet position as the remit is added to Mairi McAllan's brief.

McAllan now becomes Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, with Hyslop working under her. 

Richard Lochhead now takes over responsibility for the green economy from McAllan as his title changes to minister for small business, innovation, tourism and trade.

Gillian Martin's role is expanded to minister for energy and the environment and she will report jointly to wellbeing economy secretary Neil Gray and Mairi Gougeon, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.

The changes are subject to parliamentary agreement and approval from the King.

Yousaf praised Hyslop as "one of the most experienced politicians in the Scottish Parliament”.

He said: "By changing Mairi McAllan's remit, I am freeing her to take a direct day-to-day role in transport, effectively bringing transport explicitly back into cabinet."

Hyslop will bring "decades of experience across government to bear on the challenges that exist, not least around ferry services," Yousaf said.