Shona Robison

Shona McRory Robison was born in Redcar, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, on 26 May 1966.{{cite web |last= |first= |last2= |date=5 September 2018 |title=Shona Robison |url=https://www.snp.org/your-team/shona-robison/ |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=Scottish National Party }} She attended Alva Academy in Clackmannanshire.{{cite web |title=Shona Robison MSP |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/shona-robison |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020807231621/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/biographies/robisn-s.htm |archive-date=7 August 2002 |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=www.parliament.scot }} She gained a Master of Arts in Social Science at the University of Glasgow in 1989. The following year, she gained a Postgraduate Cert in Community Education at Jordanhill College.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-43988436|title=Profile: Shona Robison|date=26 June 2018|access-date=19 August 2019|archive-date=19 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819125614/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-43988436|url-status=live}}

Robison joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1988.{{cite web |date=26 February 2000 |title=Shona Robison MSP |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/shona-robison |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000226232226/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/biographies/robisn-s.htm |archive-date=26 February 2000 |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=Scottish Parliament}} She was an active member of the party's youth wing the Young Scottish Nationalist, now known as Young Scots for Independence, where she met the likes of Nicola Sturgeon and Fiona Hyslop.{{cite web |title=Shona Robison MSP {{!}} Dundee City East {{!}} SNP |url=https://www.shonarobison.org/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Shona Robison MSP |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512023644/https://www.shonarobison.org/ |url-status=usurped }}

Before being elected to the Scottish Parliament, she worked in Glasgow City Council's Social Work Department.{{cite web |title=Shona Robison MSP |url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/shona-robison/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=www.gov.scot |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508105203/https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/shona-robison/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date= |title=The Scottish Parliament: MSP Biography – Shona Robison MSP |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/shona-robison |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603162924/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/biogs/robison_shona.htm |archive-date=3 June 2004 |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=Scottish Parliament}}

File:Shona Robison MSP 1999.jpg

Robison contested in the first election to the Scottish Parliament for the Dundee East constituency. Although she was unsuccessful, having came second to Scottish Labour's John McAllion, she was elected as an additional member for the North East Scotland region. In her first term, she was member of the Health and Community Care Committee and was the Deputy Convenor of the Equal Opportunities Committee.{{cite web |title=Shona Robison |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/shona-robison |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=www.parliament.scot |archive-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324125457/https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/shona-robison |url-status=live }}

She served in the SNP's opposition cabinet as the shadow deputy minister for health and community care.

In the 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Robison successfully defeated McAllion by just 100 votes in Dundee East. She served as the Shadow Minister for Health and Social Justice in the SNP's opposition benches.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/msps/30574.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003–2007): Shona Robison MSP |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=14 May 2016 |archive-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605073410/http://www.parliament.scot/msps/30574.aspx |url-status=live }} Robison was a member of the Health Committee.

File:Summer Cabinet in Kirkcaldy - 6096488715.jpg

After the SNP's victory in the 2007 election, Robison was appointed as the Minister for Public Health.{{cite news |date=17 May 2007 |title=The Scottish Executive |work=The Herald (Glasgow) |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-scottish-executive-1.842205 |access-date=27 September 2014 |archive-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118070551/http://www.heraldscotland.com/the-scottish-executive-1.842205 |url-status=live }} In 2009, she added Sport onto her portfolio.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/msps/26650.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007–2011): Shona Robison MSP |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=14 May 2016 |archive-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605070722/http://www.parliament.scot/msps/26650.aspx |url-status=live }} In the 2011 election, Robison was re-elected into the newly drawn, Dundee City East constituency. She was appointed Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport.

In the run up to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, Robison wrote to the University of Dundee to complain that a Dundee professor had chaired an event for the Better Together campaign. Robison insisted that Christopher Whatley's involvement in the Five Million Questions project about the implications of the referendum meant he should have taken a neutral stance on the constitutional issue.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/snp-minister-in-chilling-bid-to-gag-academics-pfzsqvws58t|title=SNP minister in 'chilling bid to gag academics'|first=Lindsay|last=McIntosh|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420220835/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/snp-minister-in-chilling-bid-to-gag-academics-pfzsqvws58t|url-status=live}} However, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: "I'm not sure this kind of bullying and intimidation is the best advert for the SNP's vision of a future separate Scotland. In fact, it is chilling."{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10445073/SNP-ministers-waging-dangerous-campaign-to-gag-university-academics.html|title=SNP ministers 'waging dangerous campaign to gag university academics'|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420220836/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10445073/SNP-ministers-waging-dangerous-campaign-to-gag-university-academics.html|url-status=live}}

In April 2014, Alex Salmond promoted her to the full Cabinet position of Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners' Rights.

{{clear}}

{{main|Premiership of Nicola Sturgeon|First Sturgeon government}}

File:Shona Robison speaks at QBR visit to Canadian Parliament (14070892691).jpg, 2014]]

On 21 November 2014, Robison was appointed by Sturgeon as Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, in Sturgeon's first government. Following the 2016 election, she was reappointed into Sturgeon's cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36323276 | title=Scottish cabinet reshuffle: John Swinney becomes education secretary | work=BBC News | date=18 May 2016 | access-date=21 March 2017 | archive-date=18 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818120524/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36323276 | url-status=live }} In January 2018, during an appearance at Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee, she was warned by Labour MSP Neil Findlay of a "drugs disaster".{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15816408.health-secretary-shona-robison-warned-drugs-disaster-labour-msp/|title=Health Secretary Shona Robison warned of 'drugs disaster' by Labour MSP|website=HeraldScotland|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503093604/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15816408.health-secretary-shona-robison-warned-drugs-disaster-labour-msp/|url-status=live}} In 2018, Scotland went on to record the highest number of drug deaths per head in the European Union, at a rate nearly three times higher than the UK average.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.scot/news/1-187-drug-deaths-in-2018-up-27-percent-in-a-year/|title=1,187 drug-deaths in 2018: up 27% in a year - gov.scot|website=www.gov.scot|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503141631/https://www.gov.scot/news/1-187-drug-deaths-in-2018-up-27-percent-in-a-year/|url-status=live}}

On 26 June 2018, she announced her intention to resign from Cabinet. Shortly after a cabinet reshuffle was made by Sturgeon.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-44612923 |title=Shona Robison quits as Nicola Sturgeon reshuffles cabinet |work=BBC News |date=26 June 2018 |access-date=11 November 2018 |archive-date=18 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118012838/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-44612923 |url-status=live }} BBC political correspondent Glenn Campbell wrote after the reshuffle: "The most widely anticipated departure was t/hat of health secretary, Shona Robison. She's been under considerable pressure over NHS performance. She stood down on the day the Scottish government confirmed its worst cancer waiting times for six years."

Following her resignation from government, Robison returned to the backbenches. She served on the Parliament's Justice Committee and Social Security Committee. Amid the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, she served as a member of the COVID-19 Committee.

In February 2021, Audit Scotland published a report that concluded the Scottish Government had not prepared adequately for a pandemic. The watchdog also noted that recommendations from pandemic planning exercises during Robison's time as Health Secretary had not been fully implemented. One particular failure it highlighted was that not enough had been done to ensure Scottish hospitals and care homes had enough personal protective equipment (PPE). Overall, it concluded that ministers "could have been better prepared to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic". Nicola Sturgeon said there were "lots of lessons to learn".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56086995|title=Covid in Scotland: Inadequate preparations for Covid, says watchdog|work=BBC News|date=17 February 2021|access-date=20 April 2021|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420190007/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56086995|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/scottish-government-inadequately-prepared-for-covid-audit-scotland-report|title=Scottish government inadequately prepared for Covid – watchdog|last=Brooks|first=Libby|date=17 February 2021|website=The Guardian|access-date=8 May 2021|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424084033/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/17/scottish-government-inadequately-prepared-for-covid-audit-scotland-report|url-status=live}}

File:Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison.jpg

On 20 May 2021, Sturgeon announced her third government, with Robison returning as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government. Robison held the position of Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice until the election of Humza Yousaf as First Minister in March 2023. Following a cabinet reshuffle, Yousaf appointed Shirley-Anne Somerville as Robison's replacement and promoted Robison to Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance.

{{See also|Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill}}

During Robison's tenure in the Social Justice department, she oversaw the implementation of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which was received with backlash from many fearing it was jeopardising the safety of women. Robison reassured MSPs and the public that the bill did "not conflict with work to advance women's rights and equality" and that she was "conscious that some of the details of the proposed reforms have become lost within the wider discussions around trans rights and the perceived conflict with the rights of women and girls".{{cite news |last=Brooks |first=Libby |date=9 December 2022 |title=Scottish government seeks to reassure MSPs over gender law reform |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/09/scottish-government-seeks-to-reassure-msps-over-gender-law-reform |access-date=8 August 2023 |issn=0261-3077}} The bill intended to introduce a process of self-declaration for transgender people, allowing them to obtain a gender recognition certificate (GRC), thus removing the need for a psychiatric diagnosis of gender dysphoria before being allowed to change their gender legally. In December 2022, 150 amendments had been put forward to the Scottish Parliament regarding the bill which saw MSPs sit and debate the bill in the Scottish Parliament chamber long into the evening.{{cite news |date=19 December 2022 |title=MSPs debating changes to gender reforms |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-64032916 |access-date=8 August 2023}} Robison wrote to three individual MSPs claiming that their amendments put the bill "at serious risk".

The bill was blocked by the UK Government, with Robison stating that she would "vigorously contest" any attempt by the UK Government to block the gender reform legislations which the Scottish Parliament has control over.{{cite web |date=23 December 2022 |title=Scottish Government vows to 'vigorously contest' Westminster over gender reform |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23210319.shona-robison-vigorously-contest-westminster-gender-reform/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=The National }} Under Section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak blocked the implementation of the gender reform bill. This marked the first time that the UK Government had blocked a piece of legislation from being passed since devolution.{{cite web |date=16 January 2023 |title=Statement on the UK Government's decision to block Scotland's Gender Recognition Reform Bill |url=https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/statement-uk-government%E2%80%99s-decision-block-scotland%E2%80%99s-gender-recognition-reform-bill |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Stonewall }}

{{See also|Premiership of Humza Yousaf}}

File:Cabinet meeting.jpg, March 2023]]

File:First Minister meeting with NACWG Co-Chairs - 19th July 2023.jpg

On 28 March 2023, newly elected First Minister Humza Yousaf announced Robison as his deputy first minister of Scotland.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/28/humza-yousaf-snp-unity-bid-stumbles-kate-forbes-declines-cabinet-offer-scotland |title=Humza Yousaf says FM vote sends 'strong message' but SNP unity bid stumbles |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 March 2023 |last1=Brooks |first1=Libby |access-date=29 March 2023 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328195553/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/28/humza-yousaf-snp-unity-bid-stumbles-kate-forbes-declines-cabinet-offer-scotland |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Hutcheon |first=Paul |date=28 March 2023 |title=Shona Robison appointed Deputy First Minister by Humza Yousaf |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/shona-robison-appointed-deputy-first-29570499 |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=Daily Record }} She was officially sworn into office the next day and was appointed finance secretary in Yousaf's new government.{{cite news |date=29 March 2023 |title=Shona Robison replaces Kate Forbes as finance secretary in new cabinet |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65112195 |access-date=2 April 2023}}

In July 2023, Robison intervened in the speculation over Inverclyde Royal Hospital being downgraded. Robison issued a statement through an interview with The Telegraph on the issue, stating that the hospital would not be downgraded or lose its casualty department, citing the fact that the Emergency Department at Inverclyde Royal Hospital was "one of the best performing A&E's in Scotland, certainly within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.{{cite web |date=24 July 2023 |title=Inverclyde Royal Hospital 'will not be downgraded' says deputy first minister |url=https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/23671597.deputy-first-minister-shona-robison-says-irh-future-safe/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=Greenock Telegraph }} Robison committed further money for improvements to both NHS Scotland services and facilities, citing proposals set out to be met by 2026.

Robison said that her immediate priorities as Finance Secretary was "more efficient public services and fair work" being at the heart of the Economy of Scotland. In April 2023, Robison launched the Scottish Government's Portfolio Prospectus which sets out a number of economic actions to be achieved by 2026. These include proposals for creating the UK's most progressive tax system to assist in the delivery of Scottish public services, new opportunities to tackle poverty and measures to grow the wellbeing economy whilst increasing the number of employees earning the real living wage, while narrowing the gender pay gap. Additionally, the Scottish Government has an ambition of spearheading Scotland as a leading European start-up nation for the creation of new businesses as well as developing Scotland's existing international exports while developing into new international trading market. Robison also recognising the importance of re-developing Scotland's infrastructure and economy to allow it to be more sustainable in the future, with plans for laying foundations to produce 5 Gigawatts (GW) of hydrogen production by 2030, as part of a Scottish hydrogen supply chain. As Finance Secretary, Robison will commit to implementing a "New Deal" for Scottish local authorities.{{cite web |title=A fair economy supporting Scotland's people |url=http://www.gov.scot/news/a-fair-economy-supporting-scotlands-people/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=www.gov.scot }}

Robison delivered her first Medium–Term Financial Strategy to the Scottish Parliament in May 2023.{{cite web |title=Medium-Term Financial Strategy: Ministerial statement |url=http://www.gov.scot/publications/medium-term-financial-strategy-ministerial-statement/ |access-date=8 August 2023 |website=www.gov.scot }} Robison highlighted the importance of "sound public finances" being "key to ensuring we can tackle poverty and build a fair, green and growing economy whilst improving our public services". Robison claimed that the current economic situation in Scotland had "been amongst the most challenging since devolution", citing global issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and soaring inflation being driving factors directly impacting the Scottish economy. Robison was also critical of UK Government policy and decision making that had impacted on Scotland, including Brexit and its association economic impact, "a decade of austerity" and the September 2022 United Kingdom mini-budget.

In November 2023, Robison claimed that the workforce within Scotland's public sector "will have to shrink" as a result of funding pressure.{{cite web |title=Public sector workforce will have to shrink - Shona Robison |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67538787 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=26 November 2023}} Robison claimed that public sectors such as health would be protected from any proposals to reduce the workforce, claiming that "tight budgets and inflation-driven pay deals" may require other public sectors to see their workforce reduced.{{cite web |title=Public sector workforce will have to shrink - Shona Robison |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67538787 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=26 November 2023}}

During an interview on The Sunday Show on the BBC, Robison said "This will be one of the most difficult budgets under devolution and we will be having a number of challenges around how to make sure we can invest what we can in public services. But I need to be honest with the public that this budget, this UK Tory budget and the chancellor's decisions have made my job very difficult. This is the worst case scenario for the Scottish budget".{{cite web |title=Public sector workforce will have to shrink - Shona Robison |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67538787 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=26 November 2023}}

File:Visit Clyde Gateway.jpg

Ahead of the 2024 Scottish budget, the Yousaf government intended to maintain the council tax freeze which had been in place in Scotland since the first SNP led government came to power in 2007. However, two Scottish local authorities – Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council defied the Scottish Government and approved plans to increase the rate of council tax in their respective areas.{{cite web |last1=Meighan |first1=Craig |title=Is your council tax going up or being frozen? |url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/scotland-is-your-council-tax-going-up-or-being-frozen |website=STV News |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=11 March 2024}} Argyll and Bute Council voted for a 10% rise and Inverclyde Council a 8.2% increase to council tax.{{cite web |title=Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde may ditch council tax raise |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-68605606 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=19 March 2024}} The administrations of Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council asked for additional funding from the Scottish Government to assist in maintaining a council tax freeze in their local authorities, with Robison saying that "if approved, it means households across the whole country would benefit from help during the cost of living crisis".{{cite web |title=Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde may ditch council tax raise |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-68605606 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=19 March 2024}} COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, explained that Robison's proposals to allocate £144 million in the Scottish budget to fund the council tax freeze will "not fully fund a council tax freeze". Hagmann criticised the proposals, saying that "the Scottish Budget has not provided our local authorities with a fully funded council tax freeze as expected. The Scottish Government has set aside £144m stating this will ‘fully fund’ a council tax freeze – this would only provide the income equivalent to a 5% rise".{{cite web |title=£144 million will not fully fund a council tax freeze, say COSLA |url=https://www.cosla.gov.uk/news/2024/144-million-will-not-fully-fund-a-council-tax-freeze,-say-cosla |website=COSLA |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en |date=9 January 2024}}

By April 2024, all Scottish local authorities, including Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council who had previously voted to increase council tax rates, confirmed that council tax would be frozen across all of Scotland's 32 local authorities after both Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde Councils voted to accept the Scottish Government funding package to support a council tax freeze for the forthcoming financial year. In a statement, Robison said that "many households continue to struggle with the impact of rising prices, and this council tax freeze – funded by the Scottish Government – is just one of many ways that we’re offering support. Council tax is already lower in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, and over two million households will now benefit from this freeze. We deeply value the role local authorities play in Scotland’s communities, which is why – in the face of a profoundly challenging financial situation – we have made available record funding of more than £14 billion to councils in 2024-25, a real-terms increase of 2.5% compared with the previous year".{{cite web |title=Council tax frozen across Scotland |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/council-tax-frozen-across-scotland/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en}}

File:FISC Meeting (cropped).jpg

Robison delivered the 2024–2025 Scottish budget to the Scottish Parliament in December 2023.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Peter A. |title=The 2024 Scottish Budget as it happened |url=https://www.insider.co.uk/news/live-2024-scottish-budget-happens-31706288 |website=businessInsider |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en |date=19 December 2023}} Upon setting the budget, Scotland faced a £1.5 billion blackhole in finances.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Peter A. |title=The 2024 Scottish Budget as it happened |url=https://www.insider.co.uk/news/live-2024-scottish-budget-happens-31706288 |website=businessInsider |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en |date=19 December 2023}} Robison confirmed the Scottish budget for 2024–2025 to be £59.7 billion, with the budget said to be being delivered "at a critical point for Scotland as we transition from the pandemic and respond to the impacts of inflation and the economic shocks caused by Brexit, the war in Ukraine".{{cite web |title=Scottish Budget 2024 to 2025: guide |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-guide/pages/scottish-budget-2024-to-2025-guide/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en |date=5 March 2024}} £19.5 billion was allocated to the Scottish Government department of NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, £12.9 billion to finance, £7.5 billion to Social Justice, £3.9 billion to transport, £3.8 billion for education and Justice and Home Affairs, £2 billion for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy, £1.1 billion for rural affairs, islands and land reform, £315.6 million for culture and foreign affairs, and £223 million for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.{{cite web |title=Scottish Budget 2024 to 2025: guide |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-guide/pages/scottish-budget-2024-to-2025-guide/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en |date=5 March 2024}}

In February 2024, Robison wrote to Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where she was critical of the UK Governments proposals as set out in the 2024 UK Spring Budget. In the letter, Robison claimed that "economic outlook for the UK continues to look uncertain and while inflation has fallen compared to a year ago, it is still high and this is continuing to place a considerable strain on both public sector and household budgets".{{cite web |title=UK Spring Budget 2024: letter to the UK Government |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/uk-spring-budget-2024-letter-uk-government/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en}} Whilst she highlighted the continued strength of the economy of Scotland, she expressed concerns about the reduction in funding made available to the Scottish Government, as well as to other devolved governments, through the block grant. She claimed "Block Grant funding has fallen by 1.2% in real terms since 2022-23 and our UK capital funding is set to fall by almost 10% in real terms between 2023-24 and 2027-28", and as a result of the decrease in funding, argued for "increased investment by the UK Government in public services and infrastructure, as has been recognised by the International Monetary Fund".{{cite web |title=UK Spring Budget 2024: letter to the UK Government |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/uk-spring-budget-2024-letter-uk-government/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en}} She also addressed the continued "fallout" facing the economy as a result of Brexit, again highlighting that the majority of the Scottish electorate voted against leaving the European Union. Robison argued that Brexit continues to have a negative impact on Scottish businesses as a result of additional complexities and increased costs as a result of leaving the European single market.{{cite web |title=UK Spring Budget 2024: letter to the UK Government |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/uk-spring-budget-2024-letter-uk-government/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en}} Additionally, she highlighted to Hunt "National Institute of Economic and Social Research shows the UK economy is now 2.5% smaller than it would have been in the European Union, a gap which could increase to 5.7% by 2035".{{cite web |title=UK Spring Budget 2024: letter to the UK Government |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/uk-spring-budget-2024-letter-uk-government/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en}}

The Scottish government confirmed up to £500 million in spending cuts as Robison explained that these savings were crucial for supporting the 2024-2025 Scottish budget. She attributed the financial pressures to prolonged Westminster austerity, Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and the cost of living crisis. Despite criticisms from opposition and advocacy groups, Robison defended the need for tough decisions to maintain fiscal responsibility.{{cite news|last=Mitchell |first=Jenness |title=Scottish government confirms £500m spending cuts |date=3 September 2024 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/scottish-government-confirms-500m-spending-cuts-13208917 |access-date=5 September 2024}}

Upon the resignation of Humza Yousaf and the subsequent election of John Swinney, on 8 May 2024 Robison resigned as Deputy First Minister.{{Cite web |title=Deputy First Minister stands down |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/deputy-first-minister-stands-down/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.gov.scot |language=en}} In her resignation letter to Swinney, Robison stated that the previous week she believed stepping down from the role in favour of Kate Forbes would help bring the SNP together.{{Cite news |date=2024-05-08 |title=Kate Forbes 'honoured' to become deputy first minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-68976320 |access-date=2024-05-08 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Forbes replaced her as Deputy First Minister.

{{main|Premiership of John Swinney|Swinney government}}

File:New Scottish Cabinet meet at Bute House (53711322838).jpg

In the cabinet of John Swinney, Robison retained the Finance portfolio and gained the additional portfolio of Local Government.{{Cite web |title=New Scottish Cabinet |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/new-scottish-cabinet-1/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.gov.scot |language=en}}

In August 2024, a series of strikes were set to impact on public sector services across Scotland including schools, refuse and other local government employees in a dispute over pay. Strike action was formally called off by the three largest trade unions in Scotland following an intervention from the Scottish Government which pledged an additional £77.5 million to pay for an improved pay offer. The additional funding from the Scottish Government enabled the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) to make an improved pay offer to trade unions to consult with their members. The new pay offer would see an overall increase of 4.27%, with a rise of 5.63% offered to the lowest paid local government employees.{{cite web |title=Local authority pay |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/local-authority-pay/ |website=www.gov.scot |access-date=4 November 2024 |language=en}} Following the announcement of additional funding to provide an improved pay offer, Robison stated that both she and the Scottish Government "value this vital workforce" but warned that to fund the improved offer "money from elsewhere in the budget will have to be moved and this will reduce funding for other programmes".

In October 2024, strikes in Perth and Kinross closed schools, including in the constituency of incumbent first minister John Swinney, over pay disputes. The strikes were announced by trade union Unison and last for two weeks, with non–teaching staff, early years staff, janitorial and catering staff taking strike actions. Teachers were not striking during the strike action.{{cite web |title=Perth and Kinross school strikes enter second week |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c704z82vpe4o |website=BBC News |access-date=4 November 2024 |date=28 October 2024}} In response, the first minister, John Swinney, called for an end to the strikes stating that he hopes "Unison will continue meaningful dialogue with local government and join colleagues by accepting the offer and ending industrial action",{{cite web |title=Swinney calls for end to strikes targeting schools in his constituency |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/business/swinney-calls-for-end-to-strikes-targeting-schools-in-his-constituency-b2636861.html |website=The Independent |access-date=4 November 2024 |language=en |date=28 October 2024}} with Robison claiming that there was "no more money available" for improved local government pay deals.{{cite web |title=Shona Robison says 'no more money' available for local government pay |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24668029.no-money-available-local-government-pay---shona-robison/ |website=The National |access-date=4 November 2024 |language=en |date=21 October 2024}}

File:Travelling Cabinet Ayr (Scotland) on November 4, 2024 - 5.jpg in Ayr, November 2024]]

Ahead of the 2025 Scottish budget, Robison stated that as a consequence of the increase to the amount of National Insurance public sectors employers pay which was announced by the UK Government that Scotland "must be compensated" by HM Treasury. She made the comments following the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves outlining the 2024 Autumn budget which is speculated to have a decrease in funding of £500 million available to Scottish Government. Reeves suggested that an additional £3.4 billion in investment which would be made available to the Scottish Government did "not include compensation" and she encouraged the Scottish Government to spend the extra investment "wisely". It was further announced by Reeves that the Scottish Government would receive an additional £1.5 billion to compensate for additional staff costs as a result of the public sector workforce in Scotland being larger than that in the United Kingdom as a whole.{{cite web |title=Treasury must compensate Scotland for tax hike - Shona Robison |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyx7zdx8lwo |website=BBC News |access-date=4 November 2024 |date=31 October 2024}}

Robison demanded "urgent clarity" on the announcement of additional funding to compensate for increased staffing in public sector services in Scotland. There had been suggestions that Scotland could be "short changed" if the compensation amount for the increase in National Insurance is not proportional to the size of the public sector in Scotland. Following the Autumn budget outlined by Reeves, Robison welcomed the budget claiming it was "a step in the right direction" but said that as a result of the budget, the Scottish Government "will still face enormous cost pressures".

Robison delivered the 2025 Scottish budget to the Scottish Parliament on 4 December 2024. In the budget, Robison pledged that the Scottish Government would end the two child benefit cap in 2026. Additionally, record spending for the National Health Service in Scotland was announced, with £21 billion being earmarked for the NHS in order to reduce waiting times and to ensure access to GPs was easier for the public. Additional measures announced in the budget included extra winter payments for the elderly, funding to tackle the climate emergency and scrapping the council tax freeze. Opposition parties in the Scottish Parliament were critical of the budget, with Scottish Labour stating that the government was "going in the wrong direction", whilst the Scottish Conservatives claimed that budget was "more of the same" from previous budgets set by the Scottish Government.{{cite web |title=Scottish Budget: Finance Secretary Shona Robison pledges to end two-child benefit cap |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8xjeqkj8vvt |website=BBC News |access-date=4 December 2024}}

On 5 March 2025, Robison confirmed that she would not seek re–election as an MSP in the upcoming 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.{{cite web |title=Shona Robison and Fiona Hyslop to stand down as MSPs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjw2nppn12qo |website=BBC News |access-date=5 March 2025 |date=5 March 2025}}

She was married to Stewart Hosie,{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080306/debtext/80306-0018.htm | title=International Women's Day Debate | date=6 March 2008 | work=House of Commons Hansard Debates | access-date=3 May 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605021451/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080306/debtext/80306-0018.htm | archive-date=5 June 2011 | df=dmy-all }} who is the Westminster MP for Dundee East and was previously the SNP's Depute Leader. They have one daughter. Robison experienced a miscarriage in 2007.{{cite web |last=Mandy Rhodes |title=We must ease this silent sorrow: Former health secretary Shona Robison on the grief of losing a baby and why it is time to talk about miscarriage |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/we-must-ease-this-silent-sorrow-former-health-secretary-shona-robison-on-the-grief-of-losing-a-baby-and-why-it-is-time-to-talk-about-miscarriage/ |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=The Sunday Post }} It was announced on 15 May 2016 that the couple had separated.{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/snp-husband-and-wife-stewart-hosie-and-shona-robison-separate-1-4129072|title=SNP husband and wife Stewart Hosie and Shona Robison separate|work=The Scotsman|date=16 May 2016|access-date=11 November 2018|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624121334/https://www.scotsman.com/news/snp-husband-and-wife-stewart-hosie-and-shona-robison-separate-1-4129072|url-status=live}} This was followed by reports that Hosie had had an affair with Westminster-based freelance journalist Serena Cowdy.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/16/snps-stewart-hosie-and-angus-macneil-split-from-wives-over-alleg/|title=SNP MPs Stewart Hosie and Angus MacNeil split from wives over alleged affairs with same woman|first=Telegraph|last=Reporters|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=17 May 2016|via=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625071449/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/16/snps-stewart-hosie-and-angus-macneil-split-from-wives-over-alleg/|url-status=live}}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://shona.robison.scot personal website]
• {{SP-MSP}}
• [http://www.gov.scot/About/People/Ministers/Cabinet-Secretary-for-Health-and-Wellbeing profile] on Scottish Government website
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120119103326/http://www.snp.org/people/shona-robison profile] on SNP website
• [http://dundeesnp.scot/msps-mp/ Dundee SNP website]
• [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/msp/shona_robison They Work For You]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/32716.stm BBC Democracy Live]
• [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Shona_Robison&mpc=Dundee_East&house=scotland Public Whip Voting Record]

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|sct}}

{{s-new|Parliament|reason=Scotland Act 1998}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland|years=1999–2003}}

{{s-aft|after=Marlyn Glen}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=John McAllion}}

{{s-ttl

|title=Member of the Scottish Parliament for {{nowrap|Dundee East}}

|years=2003–2011)

}}

{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished }}

{{s-new | constituency}}

{{s-ttl

|title=Member of the Scottish Parliament for {{nowrap|Dundee City East}}

|years=2011–present

}}

{{s-inc}}

|-

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=John Swinney}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy First Minister of Scotland|years=2023–2024}}

{{s-aft|after=Kate Forbes}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Kate Forbes|as=Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cabinet Secretary for Finance|years=2023–present}}

{{s-inc}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Lewis Macdonald|as=Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Public Health and Sport|years=2007–2011}}

{{s-aft|after=Michael Matheson}}

|-

{{s-new|office}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport|years=2011–2014}}

{{s-aft|after=Jamie Hepburn|as=Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health}}

|-

{{s-new|office}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights|years=2014}}

{{s-aft|after=Alex Neil}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Alex Neil}}

{{s-ttl|title=Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport|years=2014–2018}}

{{s-aft|after=Jeane Freeman}}

{{s-bef|before=Aileen Campbell}}

{{s-ttl

|title=Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government

|years=2021–2023

}}

{{s-aft|after=Shirley-Anne Somerville}}

{{s-end}}

{{Scottish Deputy First Ministers}}

{{Scottish Cabinet}}

{{NorthEastScotland MSPs}}

{{SNP MSPs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robison, Shona}}

Category:1966 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament for Dundee constituencies

Category:People from Redcar

Category:Scottish National Party MSPs

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026

Category:Members of the Scottish Cabinet

Category:Health ministers of Scotland

Category:Sports ministers

Category:Women members of the Scottish Government

Category:20th-century Scottish women politicians

Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow

Category:Anglo-Scots

Category:Finance ministers of Scotland

Category:Deputy first ministers of Scotland