Pam Duncan-Glancy - who made history by becoming the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected as an MSP in 2021 - has been named Scottish Labour’s new education spokeswoman.
Ms Duncan-Glancy, who had been social security spokeswoman, takes over the education role from Michael Marra, who now becomes Labour’s finance spokesman.
Ms Duncan-Glancy’s appointment was announced as Labour leader Anas Sarwar revamped his front bench team on Monday morning, declaring his party “election-ready”. A UK general election is expected to take place next year.
The news of the reshuffle comes in the wake of Humza Yousaf’s appointment as first minister and as the SNP faces what has been described as the party’s “biggest crisis in 50 years”, given the ongoing investigation into its finances.
Recent polls have suggested a narrowing of the gap between the SNP and Labour in Scotland, while the party’s UK leader Sir Keir Starmer has also made a number of campaign trips north of the border in a bid to woo voters.
Responding to her appointment as education spokesperson on Twitter, Ms Duncan-Glancy said education gave people “a fighting chance at living their best lives” and she could not “wait to get started to fight for everyone in Scotland to have the education they deserve”.
Ms Duncan-Glancy is behind the Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) Bill, which is currently making its way through the Scottish parliament and aims to improve opportunities for disabled young people as they grow up and leave school.
Ms Duncan-Glancy told the Scottish parliament’s education committee last month that thousands of disabled school leavers are “being failed”, and that a lack of support after they leave school is “stripping them of hope”.
The bill’s proposals have three main strands: it provides for a national transitions strategy to be set out; for a minister to be specified as being responsible for the transitions of children and young people; and for a duty on local authorities to plan for disabled children and young people’s transitions, and a statutory process for this.
Other changes to the Scottish Labour front bench include Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie taking on the role of general election campaign coordinator alongside her existing post as Labour’s Scottish spokesperson on NHS recovery, health and social care and drugs policy.
Ian Murray, the party’s single Scottish MP and shadow Scottish secretary, also takes on the role of general election campaign coordinator.
MSPs Carol Mochan and Paul Sweeney will work on the health brief alongside Ms Baillie, with Ms Mochan the party’s spokeswoman for public health and women’s health, while Mr Sweeney will speak on mental health and veterans issues.
Daniel Johnson, who had been Scottish Labour’s finance and economy spokesman, is given a slightly changed brief, speaking for the party on economy, business and fair work.
Mr Marra, who had been education spokesman at Holyrood, now becomes Labour’s finance spokesman, while Ms Duncan-Glancy takes over the education role.
Sarah Boyack, meanwhile, is moved from external affairs, culture and the constitution to become the spokeswoman for net zero, energy and a just transition.
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, who had been chief whip as well as spokeswoman for land reform and the islands, sees her role altered so that she will now speak on rural affairs, land reform and the islands.
Neil Bibby is switched from being transport spokesman to Labour’s spokesman on the constitution, external affairs and culture.
Paul O’Kane, who was spokesman for public health, social care and drugs, now becomes the spokesman for social justice, social security and equalities, while Pauline McNeil remains as justice spokeswoman.
Mark Griffin also remains in his current role as local government and housing spokesman, with Martin Whitfield - a former primary teacher - staying as spokesman for children and young people, but also taking on the role of business manager within the party at Holyrood.
Alex Rowley, a former Scottish Labour deputy leader, becomes transport spokesman, while Mercedes Villalba stays as environment and biodiversity spokeswoman.
Foysol Choudhury also retains his culture, Europe and international development spokesman role, with Katy Clark staying on as community safety spokeswoman.
Mr Sarwar said: “Today I am announcing that Scottish Labour is election-ready, with my colleagues Ian Murray and Jackie Baillie being unveiled as co-coordinators for the next general election in Scotland.
“At that election, only Scottish Labour can take seats from the SNP, kick the Tories out, and deliver the Labour government that Scotland badly needs.
“From implementing a meaningful windfall tax on oil and gas giants to creating GB Energy and the thousands of jobs that will bring to Scotland, a Labour government will transform our country.
“The road to that Labour government begins in Scotland.”
