Scottish Secretary Michael Moore sacked in cabinet reshuffle

Following Nick Clegg’s cabinet reshuffle, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore was sacked and replaced by Alistair Carmichael.

16:02 07 October 2013

As the coalition government's reshuffle took hold, it was revealed that Scottish Secretary Michael Moore was sacked and was replaced by Alistair Carmichael.

Carmichael has been the Lib Dems’ chief whip and the government deputy chief whip since the formation of the coalition.

“Disappointed” Moore said in his resignation letter that he was “grateful” that he was able to make the case for Scotland to remain part of the UK and claims that the future of the UK was "bigger than one individual or party".

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg responded by saying that Mr Moore had done a “formidable” job. However, he added: "We now need to draw on different experience in the final year running up to the referendum itself.”

Another one to resign is Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon who took to Twitter and said: "On back benches! Three and half really fun years with much achieved. Really appreciate time working with outstanding ministers and officials."

A number of ministers, which include John Randall and Chloe Smith, have also resigned from the government in recent days in anticipation of the reshuffle and Conservatives Alistair Burt, Mark Prisk, Mark Hoban and Richard Benyon have since stood down stand down but Moore was the only one to have been actively sacked from a position.

Here are some of the key changes:

• Alistair Carmichael becomes Secretary of State for Scotland
• Don Foster announced as Lib Dem Chief Whip and deputy government chief whip
• Greg Knight leaves whip office as Conservative Greg Hands become deputy Conservative chief whip
• Nicky Morgan joins Treasury as economic secretary while conservative Sajid Javid takes the job as financial secretary to the Treasury
• Home Office’s Jeremy Browne replaced by Lib Dem Norman Baker
• Conservative Esther McVey promoted to employment minister
• Conservative Mike Penning appointed as minister of state at Work and Pensions
• Justice Minister Helen Grant is now the sports and equalities minister after she was replaced by Conservative Shailesh Vara