Alex Neil becomes minister for housing and communities with Roseanna Cunningham succeeding Mike Russell as environment minister. Keith Brown takes the post of schools minister while Mike Russell is given a more powerful role as he moves into Alex Salmond's office and will be given responsibility for the culture brief and constitutional matters. This is seen as a critical post in the run up to the SNP's promised independence referendum.
Announcing the changes, Mr Salmond paid tribute to the work and dedication of Linda Fabiani, Stewart Maxwell and Maureen Watt, saying they had been part of an extraordinarily successful team.
The shake-up does not involve cabinet ministers and it was said no changes were planned for them.
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10 comments:
First thing that springs to mind is I hope Roseanna Cunningham stops this idea of renting our forests. It's a bad move and will lose a lot of votes in SNP heartlands.
Hmm, not the big reshuffle i was thinking. I thought Alex might have shifted Shona Robinson becouse she had a torrid time with that empty Hospital in Dundee.
Mike Russle has certinly climbed the pole.
Alex Neil is a good move but i would like to have seen him in the cabinet.
Spook the Strathmartine hospital business was something she inherited from the old executive and she handled it well. I'm not surprised she's still there.
Mike Russell has always been very close to Alex so no surprises there. Both Alex Neil and Mike Russell could do a good job regarding the constitution policy but it could be Alex Neil is still regarded as 'competition' since he ran against John Swinney.
Will be interesting with Roseanna and Alex returning. Very interesting.
I agree sobrosa, she did inherit the problem from the old executive. It will be fun times ahead and big Roza is a bit loud but i think the SNP has all the big hitters up front now.
Think of Labours front bench and you have to laugh at it. Dull, grey, fat and shi#
In a sense this reshuffle is analogous to Barack Obama appointing Hillary Clinton, Gordon Brown appointing Peter Mandelson and David Cameron appointing Ken Clarke. The mood of the times seems to be that it's best to field your 'A-team' regardless of faction. That said, if talent alone was what mattered there's a case that Cunningham, Neil and Russell should really be in the cabinet.
Hello James. Yes if it was talent alone I'd agree but he couldn't have 3 people who stood in leadership challenges in his cabinet. These 3 will manage to pull their weight whether in or out of it hopefully.
It's time for us to start preparing for the referendum. The discussions need to get underway.
James Kelly,
James, I'd agree with you apart from the Gordon Brown appointing Mandelson comparison.
If Salmond appointed an unelected character with such a track record, into a decision making role, I would never mention, far less vote for, the SNP again.
Morning brownlie
Mandelson's been lying low the past couple of weeks I notice. Something's brewing...
subrosa said...
Why is that Oldrightie? Don't you want rid of the whingeing Scots?
10 February 2009 17:07
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Sorry for the delay. Was away for a day. I don't see the Scots any more whingeing than the rest of us. Comes with a dreadful Regime.
Evening Oldrightie. It's lovely weather the past couple of days to get out and about. Hope you had a good time.
This 'whingeing Scots' is a recent spin line from London based labour I think. Can't recall hearing it much before the last 12 years.
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