SHONA Robison fills in for Humza Yousaf at First Minister’s Questions tomorrow while he is in New York City for a climate conference.
Robison is the Deputy First Minister and was promoted to the role when Yousaf was elected leader of the SNP and subsequently as First Minister in March this year.
She previously served as social justice secretary and health secretary under Nicola Sturgeon, during her premiership.
Why is she filling in for the First Minister?
Yousaf is currently in New York City where he is speaking and meeting world leaders at the city’s Climate Week event.
He will not be in Scotland on Thursday for his scheduled weekly showdown with the other Scottish party leaders in the Holyrood chamber.
Protocol means his deputy Robison will fill in for him. When the Deputy Prime Minister fills in during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, it is conventional for the deputy leaders of the opposing parties to take the place of their bosses.
Robison will, however, face off against party leaders Douglas Ross, of the Scottish Conservatives, and Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar.
Who is Shona Robison?
First elected as an MSP for the North East region in 1999, Robison previously worked at Glasgow City Council’s social work department.
She has been the MSP for Dundee East since 2003 and has served in Government on and off since since 2014.
Seen as a key ally of Yousaf during his leadership campaign last year, Robison was promoted to be his right-hand woman and Finance Secretary when he won over rival Kate Forbes.
Robison was previously married to SNP MP Stewart Hosie, who represents Dundee East, but they have been separated in 2016 after reports Hosie had an affair.
