has been appointed Minister for
Parliamentary Business and for Veterans by First Minister .
Subject to parliamentary agreement and the approval of His
Majesty the King, Ben Macpherson will succeed Mr Dey as Minister
for Higher & Further Education, while Mr Dey retains his
responsibilities for Scottish Government policy on
veterans.
The First Minister said:
“I am delighted to appoint as Minister for Parliamentary
Business and Ben Macpherson as Minister-designate for Higher
& Further Education.
“Graeme Dey brings wide experience of handling parliamentary
business to this role and is a minister widely respected across
the Parliamentary chamber for his open and constructive approach
to finding common ground.
“Ben Macpherson has wider experience across a range of policy
areas and will bring a creative and dynamic leadership to higher
and further education that is so fundamental to transforming the
lives of individuals across the country, and to supporting this
government's ambitious economic agenda.”
Background
Graeme Dey is the MSP for the Angus South constituency. He was
born and raised in Aberdeen. After graduating, he pursued a
career in journalism – working for
the Courier as a sports journalist. He is
married with two grown up children.
Mr Dey was Minister for Parliamentary Business & Veterans
from 2018 to 2021, before serving as Minister for Transport until
2022. In March 2023 he was appointed as Minister for Higher &
Further Education and Minister for Veterans.
Ben Macpherson is the MSP for the Edinburgh Northern & Leith
constituency. He grew up in the Scottish capital and graduated at
the University of York before studying law at University of
Edinburgh and becoming a lawyer in the city.
Mr Macpherson served as Minister for Europe, Migration &
International Development from June 2018 to February 2020, then
Minister for Public Finance & Migration until being appointed
Minister for Rural Affairs & the Natural Environment in
December 2020. In 2021 he became Minister for Social Security
& Local Government, a post he held until leaving government
in March 2023.
