New Islands minister appointed

Humza Yousaf MSP has been appointed as the new Minister for Transport and Islands following a reshuffle of  the Scottish Cabinet yesterday.

Following the announcement, yesterday afternoon, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon commented: “Humza Yousaf will leave behind a strong legacy in the external affairs portfolio as he takes up the significant responsibilities of Minister for Transport and the Islands and will work closely with the Cabinet Secretaries for the Economy, for Climate Change and for the Rural Economy.”

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur commented: “I would like to congratulate Humza Yousaf and welcome him to his new post. I would also like to pay tribute to outgoing Islands Minister, Derek Mackay, for his work over the last two years.

“I have enjoyed a good personal and professional working relationship with Humza Yousaf. I worked closely with him in his previous role as External Affairs Minister, particularly in developing Scotland’s close ties with Malawi. I look forward to continuing that approach over the coming years.

“The priorities for the new Islands Minister are clear. The First Minister, during the election campaign, pledged greater attention for the islands through an Islands Bill while she also made a commitment to cut ferry fares for the Northern Isles. I look forward to working with the new Islands Minister to ensure these commitments are given immediate attention.”