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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Ministers sacked in SNP reshuffle | Ministers sacked in SNP reshuffle |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Alex Salmond has sacked three ministers from the Scottish Government in his first reshuffle since taking power. | Alex Salmond has sacked three ministers from the Scottish Government in his first reshuffle since taking power. |
| Culture minister Linda Fabiani, schools minister Maureen Watt and housing and sports minister Stewart Maxwell all lost their jobs. | Culture minister Linda Fabiani, schools minister Maureen Watt and housing and sports minister Stewart Maxwell all lost their jobs. |
| Environment Minister Mike Russell has taken over culture, and his brief was beefed up to include the constitution. | Environment Minister Mike Russell has taken over culture, and his brief was beefed up to include the constitution. |
| Fellow backbenchers Alex Neil, Keith Brown and Roseanna Cunningham all also became ministers. | Fellow backbenchers Alex Neil, Keith Brown and Roseanna Cunningham all also became ministers. |
| The Scottish Cabinet has remained unchanged as a result of the reshuffle. | |
| 'No failures' | 'No failures' |
| Mr Neil has been handed the revamped post of communities and housing minister, while Ms Cunningham has taken over Mr Russell's environment responsibilities. | |
| Mr Brown has become education minister for schools and skills. | Mr Brown has become education minister for schools and skills. |
| The first minister said the time was right to bring in new talent, as the SNP approached the mid-point of its parliamentary term in government. | The first minister said the time was right to bring in new talent, as the SNP approached the mid-point of its parliamentary term in government. |
| He thanked the departed ministers for their work, adding: "There have been no failures in the ministerial team, but I have asked them to make way to give colleagues an opportunity to show what they can contribute." | He thanked the departed ministers for their work, adding: "There have been no failures in the ministerial team, but I have asked them to make way to give colleagues an opportunity to show what they can contribute." |
| Mr Salmond went on: "The SNP group is extremely fortunate in having such a strong team of backbenchers and the purpose of the reshuffle is to give talented individuals such as Alex Neil, Roseanna Cunningham and Keith Brown the opportunity to make their contribution to government and the delivery of vital public services for the Scottish people." | Mr Salmond went on: "The SNP group is extremely fortunate in having such a strong team of backbenchers and the purpose of the reshuffle is to give talented individuals such as Alex Neil, Roseanna Cunningham and Keith Brown the opportunity to make their contribution to government and the delivery of vital public services for the Scottish people." |
| Public Health Minister Shona Robison has had sport added to her responsibilities. | Public Health Minister Shona Robison has had sport added to her responsibilities. |