John Swinney has axed the post of minister for independence from his ministerial team.

The role, the first of its kind, was created last year by then first minister Humza Yousaf.

Jamie Hepburn, who previously held the Scottish government post, has now taken over from George Adam as minister for parliamentary business.

Earlier on Thursday, SNP MP Alyn Smith appeared to confirm during a radio interview that the role had been “subsumed” into Angus Robertson’s constitution, external affairs and culture brief.

Mr Swinney was legally sworn in as Scotland’s seventh first minister at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning.

He unveiled a largely unchanged cabinet but did appoint Kate Forbes as his deputy.

A team of 14 ministers was later announced, with the minister for independence role dropped.

Mr Swinney was unopposed in the SNP leadership contest following Mr Yousaf’s resignation and promised a “new chapter” for the party.

As first minister, he has pledged to use “respect and courtesy” to make the case for Scottish independence.

Later on Thursday, he will take part in First Minister’s Questions for the first time in his new role.

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The Scottish Tories branded the post “divisive and wasteful” and said the SNP government’s “obsession with independence needs to go with it”.

Chairman Craig Hoy added: “John Swinney has doubled down on the SNP’s separation fixation, as his campaign slogan – uniting for independence – illustrates.”

Responding to Mr Smith’s BBC Good Morning Scotland interview that the post had been “subsumed” into Mr Robertson’s brief, Mr Hoy added: “John Swinney’s more-of-the-same government is happy to foster division across Scotland by focusing on the one issue the feuding SNP can agree on.

“In doing so, he is ignoring the public’s real priorities – fixing Scotland’s ailing public services and growing the economy.

“Like Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf before him, John Swinney is putting the nationalist interest before the national interest.”

Willie Rennie said he is “delighted” the ministerial post is gone.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats MSP for North East Fife said: “For months I have been campaigning to free the Cumbernauld One from the drudgery of producing independence paper after independence paper that no one reads.

“I am delighted to say that goal has now been achieved.

“The Scottish government needs to have a laser focus on the issues that really matter, like tackling long waits for healthcare and violence in our schools.”

The Scottish government has been contacted for comment.

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Cabinet:
• Kate Forbes, the youngest-ever deputy first minister, will take on the economy portfolio and responsibility for Gaelic
• Shona Robison remains in cabinet with responsibility for finance and local government
• Jenny Gilruth remains cabinet secretary for education and skills
• Angela Constance remains cabinet secretary for justice and home affairs
• Mairi McAllan remains in cabinet with responsibility for net zero and energy
• Fiona Hyslop remains cabinet secretary for transport
• Neil Gray remains cabinet secretary for health and social care
• Shirley-Anne Somerville remains cabinet secretary for social justice
• Angus Robertson remains cabinet secretary for constitution, external affairs and culture
• Mairi Gougeon remains cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands

Ministers:
• Jamie Hepburn, minister for parliamentary business
• Richard Lochhead, minister for business
• Tom Arthur, minister for employment and investment
• Ivan McKee, minister for public finance
• Natalie Don, minister for children, young people and The Promise
• Graeme Dey, minister for higher and further education
• Siobhian Brown, minister for victims and community safety
• Gillian Martin, minister for climate action
• Jim Fairlie, minister for agriculture and connectivity
• Jenni Minto, minister for public health and women’s health
• Maree Todd, minister for social care, mental wellbeing and sport
• Christina McKelvie, minister for drugs and alcohol policy
• Kaukab Stewart, minister for equalities
• Paul McLennan, minister for housing

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