SCOTLAND'S Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth is among those tipped to potentially replace Humza Yousaf should he step down as First Minister.
The former transport minister became the Education Secretary in March 2023, taking over from Shirley-Anne Somerville.
If Holyrood rumours are to be believed, she was one of the first MSPs to go on leadership manoeuvres following the ending of the Bute House Agreement.
But who is Gilruth and which jobs has she previously held?
Who is Jenny Gilruth?
Brought up and educated in Fife, Gilruth graduated from Glasgow University with a degree in politics and sociology.
She also studied a postgraduate in secondary education at Strathclyde University and has plenty of experience in the role she’s about to take on.
READ MORE: Who is in Humza Yousaf's Cabinet? Here's the new SNP FM's full team
Prior to being elected as an MSP, Gilruth worked for over a decade in education and served as a head of department at a Fife secondary school.
She also worked at Education Scotland as NQ lead for social studies, supporting the development of new qualifications and as a modern studies teacher.
In June 2022, she married former Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale in a private ceremony.
What is her political background?
Before entering teaching, Gilruth worked for MSP Tricia Marwick in her constituency office and for Kenny MacAskill in Holyrood.
She has been an active member of the Mid Fife and Glenrothes SNP branch since joining the party in 2007, aged 22.
Gilruth was also a member of the student wing of the party and has served on the National Executive of the Young Scots for Independence.
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She was elected to represent the Mid Fife and Glenrothes constituency in the 2016 election, securing more than 15,500 votes – a majority of 8276.
Which other jobs has she had in politics?
In February 2020, Gilruth joined the Scottish Government as a minister for Europe, migration and international development.
As part of a reshuffle in January 2022, she was appointed as minister for transport and has been involved in managing issues such as ScotRail's nationalisation, industrial disputes and the upcoming nationalisation of the Caledonian Sleeper service.
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