Scottish finance minister role to be split - Sturgeon

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has today announced that she is to split Finance Minster John Swinney’s current job between two people, a role which to date has encompassed both finance and the economy.

Speaking at her monthly press conference in Bute House in Edinburgh, the SNP leader said the move, which is part of her first reshuffle, will remove the economic role from Mr Swinney’s cabinet brief and create a new post which deals specifically with economic growth.

The role of finance secretary would then centre solely on taxation, government spending and managing public sector pensions and the centrepiece still being the drafting and presentation of the annual Scottish Government’s budget to Holyrood.

In future, there will be one cabinet secretary in charge of the economy, and another in charge of finance, Ms Sturgeon explained as she unveiled plans to reshape her cabinet to place renewed emphasis on the economy.

She said: “This is not a reflection on how these jobs have been done in the past, it’s a reflection of the challenges and opportunities we face in the future.

“The economic challenges, but also the recognition that we are going to be preparing for and then dealing with the introduction of new powers on tax and on welfare.”

Sturgeon said that the newly created economy role will aim to “stimulate growth, boost productivity and create jobs”.

The move comes as more and more data is emerging to show a stalling economy north of the border and Scotland with a higher unemployment rate and a higher deficit to GDP ratio than compared to the UK national average.

While these issue will clearly be the concern of the new economy minister, Ms Sturgeon refused to reveal who would fill the role.

“I’m not putting names to roles today,” she said.

But the move was welcomed by the new main opposition party, the Scottish Conservatives, who said it “makes sense” following further devolution.

The party’s deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “With significant new powers on their way to Holyrood, it makes sense to split the portfolio in this way. It will also allow the voters to see exactly which SNP minister is trying to put their taxes up.

“And while the briefs may be divided, we can’t forget that they will still be interlinked. If taxes are increased, that will very much have an impact on the wider economy. We want to see more taxpayers, not more taxes.”

Stuart Mackinnon, a spokesman for the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland, said: “With a host of new tax powers coming to Holyrood and a slew of data suggesting Scotland’s economy is underperforming, the First Minister is absolutely right to separate the finance and economy briefs in her cabinet.

“We’re especially pleased that the economy portfolio will include speaking up for business. Smaller firms from Kirkcaldy to Kirkwall will be reassured that a political heavyweight is making the case for them at the seat of power in Scotland.”

The First Minister is expected to reveal her full cabinet after she is re-elected as First Minister formally in Holyrood on May 19.