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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Scots education secretary demoted | Scots education secretary demoted |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Under-fire education secretary, Fiona Hyslop, has been demoted in a reshuffle of Scottish government ministers. | Under-fire education secretary, Fiona Hyslop, has been demoted in a reshuffle of Scottish government ministers. |
| The move came as she faced a motion of no confidence, which would almost certainly have been passed by MSPs. | The move came as she faced a motion of no confidence, which would almost certainly have been passed by MSPs. |
| Ms Hyslop, who has come under sustained attack on falling teacher numbers, class sizes and school buildings, has been replaced by Mike Russell. | Ms Hyslop, who has come under sustained attack on falling teacher numbers, class sizes and school buildings, has been replaced by Mike Russell. |
| Ms Hyslop will take his role of culture minister, after Alex Salmond said a "fresh look" was needed on education. | Ms Hyslop will take his role of culture minister, after Alex Salmond said a "fresh look" was needed on education. |
| The reshuffle - the first change in the Scottish cabinet since the SNP came to power in 2007 - came just days after Scottish government statistics showed a fall in teacher numbers of 1,348 over the past year. | The reshuffle - the first change in the Scottish cabinet since the SNP came to power in 2007 - came just days after Scottish government statistics showed a fall in teacher numbers of 1,348 over the past year. |
| Brian TaylorPolitical editor On Fiona Hyslop's watch, teacher numbers had dropped substantially: a development she herself described as "unacceptable" - although that epithet was aimed at local authorities, whom she blamed. | |
| It was becoming difficult for Alex Salmond to defend her in the face of such statistics. | |
| In such circumstances, the first minister has to bolster his own reputation - and sacrifice that of a colleague. | |
| Read Brian Taylor's blog | |
| Ms Hyslop branded the drop "unacceptable", while blaming councils for spending cash earmarked for teachers on "other purposes". | Ms Hyslop branded the drop "unacceptable", while blaming councils for spending cash earmarked for teachers on "other purposes". |
| The first minister, who only weeks ago defended Ms Hyslop's record as education secretary, said: "Schools policy has reached a difficult period, with our disagreement with many local authorities about their failure to reduce class sizes by sustaining teacher numbers. While we have achieved a new record low in primary school class sizes. | The first minister, who only weeks ago defended Ms Hyslop's record as education secretary, said: "Schools policy has reached a difficult period, with our disagreement with many local authorities about their failure to reduce class sizes by sustaining teacher numbers. While we have achieved a new record low in primary school class sizes. |
| "It is appropriate that a fresh look is taken at this and other schooling issues to break the impasse for the benefit of parents, teachers and children. I believe that Michael Russell can bring new thinking to this tough task." | "It is appropriate that a fresh look is taken at this and other schooling issues to break the impasse for the benefit of parents, teachers and children. I believe that Michael Russell can bring new thinking to this tough task." |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, whose party began moves to bring forward the motion of no confidence over the weekend, said: "We're going to get a new education secretary, but boy does he have a big job. | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, whose party began moves to bring forward the motion of no confidence over the weekend, said: "We're going to get a new education secretary, but boy does he have a big job. |
| "There's a lot of mess to sort out, and sort it out he must." | "There's a lot of mess to sort out, and sort it out he must." |
| Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray added: "The important thing now is what Mike Russell is going to do. | Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray added: "The important thing now is what Mike Russell is going to do. |
| "Let's see if he's going to change the policies, because that's important as well as changing the personnel." | "Let's see if he's going to change the policies, because that's important as well as changing the personnel." |
| New schools | New schools |
| Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Conservative leader, said: "Fiona Hyslop has been an ineffectual education secretary - she lost the confidence of parents, teachers, local authorities and education experts." | Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Conservative leader, said: "Fiona Hyslop has been an ineffectual education secretary - she lost the confidence of parents, teachers, local authorities and education experts." |
| Ms Hyslop had also come under fire over the SNP's 2007 manifesto pledge to cap pupil numbers at 18 in the first three years of primary education. | Ms Hyslop had also come under fire over the SNP's 2007 manifesto pledge to cap pupil numbers at 18 in the first three years of primary education. |
| In September, she said she would bring in legislation to cap numbers at 25 pupils and only in primary one, sparking opposition party claims that the Scottish government had dropped one of its key policies. | In September, she said she would bring in legislation to cap numbers at 25 pupils and only in primary one, sparking opposition party claims that the Scottish government had dropped one of its key policies. |
| And, despite announcing a £1.25bn plan to provide about 55 new schools in June, she was accused by Labour of unnecessary delay. | And, despite announcing a £1.25bn plan to provide about 55 new schools in June, she was accused by Labour of unnecessary delay. |
| The first minister said Ms Hyslop would do an "excellent job" as minister for culture and external affairs, a role which includes Europe and relations with the UK government. | The first minister said Ms Hyslop would do an "excellent job" as minister for culture and external affairs, a role which includes Europe and relations with the UK government. |
| However, responsibility for the constitution has been taken out of the post. | However, responsibility for the constitution has been taken out of the post. |
| Mr Salmond said he had now personally taken responsibility for the forthcoming bill on an independence referendum. | Mr Salmond said he had now personally taken responsibility for the forthcoming bill on an independence referendum. |