John Swinney has been sworn in as First Minister of Scotland for the second time in what he described as a “deeply precious moment”.
Mr Swinney went to the Court of Session on Wednesday morning where he was sworn in to the role by Scotland’s most senior judge, the Lord President.
He left the court just after 10am, flanked by his wife Elizabeth and teenage son Matthew.
Speaking to the Press Association after the ceremony, Mr Swinney said he would be a “First Minister for all of Scotland”.
He said: “It’s a very moving ceremony to take part in at the Court of Session, to be appointed by the court as the First Minister of Scotland.
“It is a ceremony that connects the office I hold to the very origins of the Scottish state, so it’s a deeply precious moment for me, and a reminder of the significant responsibilities that I carry as First Minister, which I faithfully carry out on behalf of the people of our country.”
He said his top priorities are to tackle the cost of living, improve the NHS and “give the people of Scotland the opportunity to decide on their own constitutional future”.
He added: “I pledged to be a First Minister that would serve all the people of Scotland, and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
The SNP leader was elected as First Minister for the second time in Holyrood on Tuesday after his party won 58 seats at this month’s election.
He told MSPs he is “determined to get on with the job” in Holyrood, as he shook the hands of fellow party leaders following a series of votes, despite no other candidate looking likely to win the backing of a majority of MSPs.
After his official swearing in, the First Minister must now set about filling gaps in his Cabinet filled by the retirement of a number of key ministers, including former deputy first minister Kate Forbes and finance secretary Shona Robison.
Culture secretary Angus Robertson lost his seat in Edinburgh to the Scottish Greens and was not returned to Holyrood, so will also need to be replaced.
It is likely he will look to bring in fresh talent from the SNP benches to the Cabinet room, including former MPs Stephen Flynn – who was the party’s Westminster leader until he won his Scottish Parliament seat – Stephen Gethins and Alison Thewliss.
Appointments are expected to start being made later on Wednesday, with ministers due to face a confirmatory vote in Holyrood on Thursday.
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