A Scottish Government reshuffle sees the rural portfolio given ‘extra support’.

The move, prompted by the resignation of Transport Secretary Kevin Stewart due to health reasons, will see Aberdeenshire MSP Gillian Martin, have added responsibilities to her remit and changing her title to ‘Minister for Energy and the Environment’.

She will report jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for the Wellbeing Economy and to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.

Mairi McAllan, recently promoted to the cabinet for the first time by First Minister Humza Yousaf, now has the remit of Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition.

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Ms McAllan will take a greater day-to-day role in the transport brief. Responsibility for the Green Economy will move from Ms McAllan to Richard Lochhead, who will report to her for these issues. Mr Lochhead’s new title will be Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade.

A key part of the reshuffle is the return of the transport portfolio to the cabinet with veteran politician Fiona Hyslop taking up the role of Cabinet Secretary for Transport.

The First Minister said: “I am pleased to announce that I am strengthening the ministerial team on transport.

“I have taken two steps: first, by changing Màiri McAllan’s remit, I am freeing her to take a direct day-to-day role in transport, effectively bringing transport explicitly back into Cabinet.

“Second, I am bringing one of the most experienced politicians in the Scottish Parliament – Fiona Hyslop – into the role of Minister for Transport.

“Her return to government means she can bring her decades of experience across government to bear on the challenges that exist, not least around ferry services.

“Finally, I am using this opportunity to also bring some extra support to the rural portfolio by expanding Gillian Martin’s role, and ensuring that Richard Lochhead’s title reflects his responsibilities supporting business across Scotland.

“This will ensure that the significant policy plans of this Government can be pursued with vigour.”

Analysis

When First Minister Humza Yousaf unveiled his first cabinet, he drew criticism from opposition politicians for not appointing a transport secretary.

He was also criticised by industry for failing to provide the rural portfolio with a junior minister after Mairi McAllan was promoted.

While these points have now been addressed, only time will tell how rural communities and the agriculture sector will benefit from it.

In terms of transport, projects such as dualling the notorious A9 are unlikely to get past the SNPs Green coalition partners and unless Ms Hyslop has added welding to her already formidable skill set, it’s unclear how anyone can recover the desperate ferry construction fiasco which has left island communities isolated.

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While additional support for the rural portfolio should be welcomed, the focus of titles seems to veer more towards environment and net zero concerns.

These are of course concerns shared by industry which continues to embrace the environmental challenges society faces, but there are already two Green ministers in government.

Perhaps the policy pendulum should swing back a little and give more attention to securing vibrant rural communities and a thriving agriculture sector that puts affordable, nutritious food on plates.