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Alex Neil and Richard Lochhead step down from Holyrood cabinet | Alex Neil and Richard Lochhead step down from Holyrood cabinet |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Richard Lochhead and Alex Neil have stepped down from the Scottish cabinet. | |
Rural affairs secretary Mr Lochhead signalled his decision to quit ahead of a reshuffle to Holyrood's top team. | Rural affairs secretary Mr Lochhead signalled his decision to quit ahead of a reshuffle to Holyrood's top team. |
Social justice minister Mr Neil also wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon telling her he would no longer continue as a minister. | |
SNP leader Ms Sturgeon, who won the Holyrood election last week, has now made public her new cabinet. | |
She said John Swinney would become Scotland's new education secretary. | |
Mr Swinney had previously been Scotland's finance secretary, as well as the country's deputy first minister. | |
Former Transport Secretary Derek Mackay has been promoted to Finance Secretary, with Keith Brown becoming the Economy Secretary. | |
Both roles had previously been filled by Mr Swinney, but have now been separated into two. | |
Mr Mackay will have responsibility for the Scottish budget and the raft of new tax and welfare powers that are being devolved to the Scottish Parliament, in a role that has been described as similar to the UK Chancellor. | |
Elsewhere, Shona Robison will remain as the health secretary, with Michael Matheson keeping his justice brief. | |
Angela Constance - who had been Education Secretary - has become the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities. | |
And Fiona Hyslop continues as the Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Secretary. | |
Roseanna Cunningham becomes Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform. | |
Fergus Ewing becomes the Rural Economy and Connectivity Secretary. | |
News of Mr Lochhead's departure from the cabinet came in the wake of his wife Fiona disclosing late last year that she was suffering from breast cancer. | |
The MSP for Moray said this had helped him come to the conclusion that he needed to "change the priorities" in his life. | The MSP for Moray said this had helped him come to the conclusion that he needed to "change the priorities" in his life. |
In a letter to the first minister, Mr Lochhead added that it had been an "absolute privilege" to serve in the cabinet, first under Alex Salmond and now Ms Sturgeon. | In a letter to the first minister, Mr Lochhead added that it had been an "absolute privilege" to serve in the cabinet, first under Alex Salmond and now Ms Sturgeon. |
Nicola Sturgeon, in reply, said he left "a rich and enduring legacy of achievement". | Nicola Sturgeon, in reply, said he left "a rich and enduring legacy of achievement". |
She has also signalled privately that Mr Lochhead could be welcomed back into government at a future date. | She has also signalled privately that Mr Lochhead could be welcomed back into government at a future date. |
Farming areas | Farming areas |
There had been speculation that Mr Lochhead might be moved from rural affairs. | There had been speculation that Mr Lochhead might be moved from rural affairs. |
It followed a long-running controversy over the failure to process the transfer of Common Agricultural Policy payments to farmers. This issue was thought to have caused the SNP electoral problems in farming areas. | It followed a long-running controversy over the failure to process the transfer of Common Agricultural Policy payments to farmers. This issue was thought to have caused the SNP electoral problems in farming areas. |
Audit Scotland is due to publish its report into the affair on Thursday. | Audit Scotland is due to publish its report into the affair on Thursday. |
One newly elected Liberal Democrat MSP, Mike Rumbles, had signalled his intention to seek to subject Mr Lochhead to a parliamentary vote if he were to continue in office - in effect, a vote of confidence. | One newly elected Liberal Democrat MSP, Mike Rumbles, had signalled his intention to seek to subject Mr Lochhead to a parliamentary vote if he were to continue in office - in effect, a vote of confidence. |
But the exchange of letters between Mr Lochhead and Ms Sturgeon makes no mention of that, stressing instead the former minister's achievements and the challenge posed by his wife's illness. | But the exchange of letters between Mr Lochhead and Ms Sturgeon makes no mention of that, stressing instead the former minister's achievements and the challenge posed by his wife's illness. |
In his resignation letter to Ms Sturgeon, Mr Neil said: "I believe we have laid the basis for an ambitious programme of reform for the next five years, especially in relation to housing, planning and social security policy. | In his resignation letter to Ms Sturgeon, Mr Neil said: "I believe we have laid the basis for an ambitious programme of reform for the next five years, especially in relation to housing, planning and social security policy. |
"However, I now intend to concentrate on my constituency and other work which cannot be easily done whilst serving in the cabinet." | "However, I now intend to concentrate on my constituency and other work which cannot be easily done whilst serving in the cabinet." |
Ms Sturgeon said Mr Neil had served "with distinction" and leaves "a rich enduring legacy of achievements" across the portfolios he was responsible for. | Ms Sturgeon said Mr Neil had served "with distinction" and leaves "a rich enduring legacy of achievements" across the portfolios he was responsible for. |
She noted his role in taking equal marriage legislation through Holyrood and his work on inequalities, housing, planning and social security. | She noted his role in taking equal marriage legislation through Holyrood and his work on inequalities, housing, planning and social security. |