Jenny Gilruth, who is married to former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, has been appointed Scotland’s Deputy First Minister — becoming the first LGBT person to hold the role.
Just over six years after entering the Scottish Government, Jenny Gilruth has climbed the ranks to become the nation’s Deputy First Minister – calling her new position “the greatest honour of my life”.
Married to former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, the promotion sees Ms Gilruth become the first LGBT person to occupy the role.
She spent three years as education secretary – a position the former modern studies teacher was initially given by Humza Yousaf in 2023.
She retained the post when John Swinney assumed the top job the following year – and he commended his new deputy for her work in averting “damaging” teachers strikes scheduled for earlier this year.
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Revealing her appointment on Wednesday, Mr Swinney said: “Jenny Gilruth has already shown she can deliver for the people of Scotland, not least in averting damaging teachers strikes earlier this year.
“Now, as my Government takes on the emphatic mandate we were given by the people, she will play a central role in making sure we deliver on people’s priorities.
“This will be a Scottish Government working for Scotland. We have pledged that we will support people with the cost of living, ensure easier access to the NHS and deliver a fresh start with independence.
“That is exactly what we will do, and I am pleased that Jenny will bring her drive and determination to that task.”
Ms Gilruth’s appointment as Deputy First Minister was the first decision made by Mr Swinney as he began assembling his new Cabinet team following his installation as Scotland’s First Minister.
She said: “Being asked to serve as John Swinney’s Deputy First Minister is the greatest honour of my life.”
Ms Gilruth, who has represented Mid Fife and Glenrothes as an MSP since 2016, added: “We are coming into Government refreshed by the faith people have placed in us and determined to deliver on the job they have asked us to do – supporting people through the cost-of-living crisis, giving people easier access to the NHS, and delivering a fresh start with independence.
“That is our task and it is one I will dedicate myself to delivering as Deputy First Minister, in a Scottish Government working for Scotland.”
Having first taken her seat as an MSP a decade ago, Ms Gilruth joined the Scottish Government in 2020, when then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon handed her the role of minister for Europe, migration and international development.
She subsequently took on the transport brief in 2022, overseeing the Scottish Government’s move to bring train operator ScotRail into public ownership – though she was also tasked with announcing significant setbacks to Government plans to dual the A9 road between Perth and Inverness.
She stepped up to the Scottish Cabinet in 2023 when Mr Yousaf entrusted her with the education portfolio – a position previously occupied by Mr Swinney himself. In the role, she has been forced to tackle difficult questions surrounding classroom violence, mobile phone usage in schools, and Scotland’s academic performance.
Last year she intervened and declared an “unprecedented” £40 million emergency funding package for Dundee University amid growing concerns about its financial situation.