TEAM HUMZA

Yousaf allies handed Cabinet jobs. Rival's backers left out in cold. Robison takes on Forbes's finance job. Opposition slam 'dismal' line-up of 'flops'

- CHRIS MCCALL

HUMZA Yousaf rewarded his closest political allies yesterday with positions in his Cabinet as he snubbed supporters of leadership rival Kate Forbes.

The First Minister appointed several new faces in his top team - which has a majority of women for the first time since devolution.

But Forbes ally Ivan McKee quit the Government after claiming he was offered a demotion from his previous job as business minister.

That snub came after Forbes, who ran Yousaf close in the leadership race, quit after losing her finance brief and rejecting the offer of rural affairs secretary.

McKee hit out after his apparent demotion, saying: "I have just been to see the First Minister. He offered me a smaller job. It was similar to what it was now but with less responsibility.

"The relationship with business needs reset and I am not sure how this does that. I am the only in person Government

who had business experience." Yousaf ally Shona Robison, also Nicola Sturgeon's closest friend in politics

will take over from Forbes as Finance Secretary, as well as being Deputy First Minister.

Another Yousaf ally, Michael Matheson, the former net zero secretary, was handed an expanded health brief with the responsibility for NHS recovery.

Neil Gray, who led Yousaf's leadership campaign, has been rewarded with the position of Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Secretary.

Labour last night accused Yousaf of rewarding "loyalty over talent" with his first Cabinet appointments.

Jackie Baillie, the party's health spokeswoman, said: "The First Minister promised to bring the country together but he can't even bring his own party together.