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| Michael Moore axed as Scottish secretary in coalition reshuffle | Michael Moore axed as Scottish secretary in coalition reshuffle |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Michael Moore has been replaced by Alistair Carmichael as secretary of state for Scotland in a wide-ranging reshuffle of Conservative and Lib Dem ministers in the coalition government. | |
| Mr Moore said he was "disappointed" but would continue to back the UK ahead of next year's independence referendum. | |
| Ex-journalist Esther McVey is among several female Tory MPs to be promoted as David Cameron freshened up his team. | |
| Ed Miliband is also carrying out a major shake-up of Labour's frontbench. | |
| Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg has lost his job while Jim Murphy, another senior figure regarded as being on the right of the party, has been moved. But Andy Burnham is to stay as shadow health secretary. | |
| Mr Moore was the only cabinet minister to lose his job in Monday's coalition reshuffle, which has largely focused on middle-ranking ministerial positions. | |
| In other significant government changes so far: | In other significant government changes so far: |
| Reacting to his sacking, Mr Moore said the future of the UK was "bigger than one individual or party" and he believed those wanting Scotland to remain were "winning the argument". | Reacting to his sacking, Mr Moore said the future of the UK was "bigger than one individual or party" and he believed those wanting Scotland to remain were "winning the argument". |
| Mr Carmichael, the MP for Orkney and Shetland, has been the Lib Dems' chief whip and a government deputy chief whip since the formation of the coalition. He was previously the party's Scottish spokesman. | Mr Carmichael, the MP for Orkney and Shetland, has been the Lib Dems' chief whip and a government deputy chief whip since the formation of the coalition. He was previously the party's Scottish spokesman. |
| The BBC's chief political correspondent, Norman Smith, said the move could be explained by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's desire to have a more combative figure in the job to take the fight to SNP leader Alex Salmond. | The BBC's chief political correspondent, Norman Smith, said the move could be explained by Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's desire to have a more combative figure in the job to take the fight to SNP leader Alex Salmond. |
| Announcing the change, Mr Clegg said Mr Moore had done a "formidable" job but that he believed "we now need to draw on different experience in the final year running up to the referendum itself". | Announcing the change, Mr Clegg said Mr Moore had done a "formidable" job but that he believed "we now need to draw on different experience in the final year running up to the referendum itself". |
| 'Difficult' | 'Difficult' |
| Mr Carmichael has been replaced in his previous role by Local Government minister Don Foster. | Mr Carmichael has been replaced in his previous role by Local Government minister Don Foster. |
| In a tweet, Mr Cameron confirmed that a reshuffle was under way, with news on individual appointments being broken via social media. | In a tweet, Mr Cameron confirmed that a reshuffle was under way, with news on individual appointments being broken via social media. |
| Norman Smith said that up to 10 ministers could be changing jobs, with promotions for a number of female MPs. | Norman Smith said that up to 10 ministers could be changing jobs, with promotions for a number of female MPs. |
| Former broadcaster Esther McVey has been promoted from her role as junior minister in the Department of Work and Pensions to minister of state, with responsibility for employment. | Former broadcaster Esther McVey has been promoted from her role as junior minister in the Department of Work and Pensions to minister of state, with responsibility for employment. |
| Nicky Morgan, previously a government whip, joins the Treasury as economic secretary while Justice minister Helen Grant moving to the Department for Culture, taking on responsibility for sport and equalities. | Nicky Morgan, previously a government whip, joins the Treasury as economic secretary while Justice minister Helen Grant moving to the Department for Culture, taking on responsibility for sport and equalities. |
| Also promoted is Matt Hancock, a close ally of Chancellor George Osborne, who stays within the Department for Business but with a wider brief encompassing skills and enterprise. | Also promoted is Matt Hancock, a close ally of Chancellor George Osborne, who stays within the Department for Business but with a wider brief encompassing skills and enterprise. |
| And fresh faces in the government include George Eustice, David Cameron's former press secretary, at environment, Robert Goodwill at transport and Shailesh Vera at justice. | And fresh faces in the government include George Eustice, David Cameron's former press secretary, at environment, Robert Goodwill at transport and Shailesh Vera at justice. |
| Standing down | Standing down |
| Among those to be axed include Treasury minister Mark Hoban, Housing minister Mark Prisk, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon and Lib Dem Home Office minister Jeremy Browne, previously regarded as a close ally of Nick Clegg. | Among those to be axed include Treasury minister Mark Hoban, Housing minister Mark Prisk, Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon and Lib Dem Home Office minister Jeremy Browne, previously regarded as a close ally of Nick Clegg. |
| Writing to Mr Browne, Mr Clegg said: "It is always very difficult to move colleagues out of government but as you know, I have always been keen that we provide the opportunity for as many in our ranks as possible to contribute their skills to ministerial office during this Parliament." | Writing to Mr Browne, Mr Clegg said: "It is always very difficult to move colleagues out of government but as you know, I have always been keen that we provide the opportunity for as many in our ranks as possible to contribute their skills to ministerial office during this Parliament." |
| However, Lib Dem peer Baroness Kramer, who lost her seat at the 2010 election, becomes a transport minister. | However, Lib Dem peer Baroness Kramer, who lost her seat at the 2010 election, becomes a transport minister. |
| A number of Conservative ministers resigned from the government over the weekend in anticipation of the reshuffle, with Mr Cameron looking to reshape his lower and middle ranks. | A number of Conservative ministers resigned from the government over the weekend in anticipation of the reshuffle, with Mr Cameron looking to reshape his lower and middle ranks. |
| Mr Miliband is also a wide-ranging shake-up of his ministerial team, with The Guardian reporting that shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle and works and pensions spokesman Liam Byrne among those set to be moved. |