Jenny Gilruth becomes transport minister

Fife MSP Jenny Gilruth is the new transport minister following the resignation of Graeme Dey on Monday.

She had been culture minister since February 2020, her first role in government after being elected in 2016.

Meanwhile Neil Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, enters government for the first time to take up the vacant role.

First elected to the Scottish Parliament last year, Gray was previously an MP and the SNP’s spokesperson for work and pensions in Westminster.

Announcing the changes, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the moves as a “vote of confidence in a new generation of ministerial talent.”

Gilruth takes over the portfolio at a critical time as transport is a key driver for reaching net-zero ambitions.

It has been 20 years since the last woman held the post.

Her predecessor, Dey, stood down for personal health reasons.

Gilruth said: “The transport portfolio is an exciting opportunity to not just shape the infrastructure of our country but to also help Scotland become a world leader in achieving our goal to become net zero by 2045.”

Gray, who will give up his role as convener of the Social Security Committee, said it was an “honour” to join the ministerial team.

He added: “I look forward to building on the great work of my predecessor by further strengthening our relations across the globe and supporting the creative industries as they set out to recover from some of the hardest years for the sector in recent memory.”