(Image: Lesley Martin)
Michael Marra has handed his leadership rival Joe Fagan the finance brief as he named his first shadow cabinet.
The new Scottish Labour leader also described his party as the "official opposition" in Holyrood.
Labour had been tied in second place with Reform until last week, when Amanda Bland, one of Malcolm Offord's MSPs, quit to sit as an independent.
Read more
- 'Continuity Starmerism': Scottish Labour leadership rivals clash in fiery TV debate
- Nominations close in contest to be Scottish Labour’s new leader
- Michael Marra sees off Joe Fagan to become Scottish Labour's 11th leader
The new line-up sees Jackie Baillie remain deputy leader and shadow cabinet secretary for health and care.
Meanwhile, Pauline McNeill, who co-chaired Mr Marra's leadership campaign, keeps the justice brief.
Mark Griffin will take social justice and housing, and new MSP Katherine Sangster will lead on education, culture and Gaelic.
Neil Bibby, who publicly backed Mr Fagan, becomes shadow cabinet secretary for constitution, Europe and external affairs.
Paul Sweeney, who also backed Mr Fagan, takes energy, climate action and transport.
Daniel Johnson, who endorsed Mr Marra, becomes shadow cabinet secretary for economy and also serves as political secretary to the leader.
Monica Lennon will develop a report on women's health (Image: Jane Barlow)
Monica Lennon, who failed to make the final leadership ballot, will lead "on the development of a state of the nation report on women's health".
Mr Fagan, who lost by 4,266 votes to 2,485 last month, becomes shadow cabinet secretary for finance, the post Mr Marra held from 2023 until he became leader.
During the leadership campaign he repeatedly criticised Mr Marra's record as finance spokesman, including Labour's abstention on two SNP budgets.
All 17 Labour MSPs have been given a role, including Irshad Ahmed.
The former SNP and Alba candidate keeps the public health and sport brief he held under Anas Sarwar.
He topped Labour's Edinburgh and Lothians East list in February, beating Daniel Johnson and Martin Whitfield. The selection led to a formal complaint to the party alleging voter irregularities, including claims that large numbers of new members had been signed up to support him.
In a new move, each portfolio team will be supported by an MP and a councillor, to be appointed in the coming weeks.
The teams will be asked to examine long-term policy questions on demographic, technological and climate change, and to report back by Scottish Labour conference in February.
Read more
- I was No, but I could be Yes – if only they would explain the How
- 'Falls on us as a nation to restore building to its glory': MP's Mack cash plea
- John Swinney says the campaign for Scottish independence has already begun
Mr Marra said: "I'm delighted to announce this new shadow cabinet focused on the big issues facing Scotland.
"Scottish politics since May's election has been too focused on gimmicks and stunts — Scotland faces huge challenges in the short and medium term but MSPs from some parties have been pursuing issues completely disconnected from people's lives, chasing social media likes and easy headlines.
"We need a better quality of debate at Holyrood and more serious thinking.
"We will take our role as the official opposition in Holyrood seriously — holding the SNP to account on their record and working to get the best deal for Scotland, using our influence where we can to deliver results for people.
"That's why we will draw in all the talent from across the Scottish Labour party for our teams, including our MPs and councillors, to shape and influence our thinking around the major long-term challenges facing our country across demographic change, climate change and technological change."
The shadow cabinet in full
Scottish Labour Leader – Michael Marra
Shadow Minister for Parliamentary Business – Claire Baker
Political Secretary to the Leader – Daniel Johnson
Finance and Public Service Reform
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance – Joe Fagan
Shadow Minister for Public Service Reform and Local Government – Carol Mochan
Education
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic – Katherine Sangster
Shadow Minister for Innovation, Technology, Skills and Tertiary Education (working across Education and Economy portfolios) – Jenny Young
Health
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care and Scottish Labour Deputy Leader – Jackie Baillie
Shadow Minister for Community Care and Mental Wellbeing – Joe Long
Shadow Minister for Public Health and Sport – Irshad Ahmed
Monica Lennon will lead on the development of a state of the nation report on Women’s Health
Justice
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice – Pauline McNeill
Energy Security, Climate, and Transport
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Action and Transport – Paul Sweeney
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Agriculture, Marine and the Islands – Donald MacKinnon
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing – Mark Griffin
Shadow Minister for Equalities and International Development – Claire Baker
Economy
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy – Daniel Johnson
Shadow Minister for Innovation, Technology, Skills and Tertiary Education (working across Education and Economy portfolios) – Jenny Young
Constitution, Europe and External Affairs
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs – Neil Bibby
Cross-Portfolio
Violence Against Women and Girls – Katy Clark