SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar has unveiled his new shadow cabinet following May’s elections.

The front-bench team of MSPs, which Mr Sarwar said would focus on national recovery, includes all of those who were elected for the first time. 

Alongside her role as deputy leader, Jackie Baillie will take on both the Covid-19 recovery and health briefs, while Rhoda Grant becomes chief whip.

Mr Sarwar’s opponent in this year’s leadership contest, Monica Lennon, is now responsible for energy and transport. 

Newly elected socialist MSPs Carol Mochan, Katy Clark, Mercedes Villalba and Paul Sweeney will also take up roles within the team. 

Mr Sarwar said: “This team demonstrates a relentless focus on protecting lives and livelihoods and taking the bold action needed to build a fairer and more equal nation coming through this crisis.

“Scottish Labour, under my leadership, will work with anyone in the national interest where there is agreement, but we will not hesitate in pushing the government to go further when it is too timid, and we will expose the government’s failures when they get it wrong.”