Nicola Sturgeon’s cabinet reshuffle imminent as Richard Lochhead steps down

Nicola Sturgeon is expected to appoint her new cabinet after being sworn in at the Court of Session today.

Changes to her front bench team are expected after Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead signalled he is to step down.

In a letter to the First Minister obtained by the BBC, Lochhead said “the time has come to change the priorities in my life" after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.

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He said he wanted to concentrate on supporting her and his sons, as well as representing his constituency.

“For these reasons, I no longer wish to hold ministerial office,” he said.

Lochhead has been in cabinet since the SNP took power in 2007.

Recently he has been criticised for his handling of payments to farmers from EU Common Agricultural Policy.

It is thought new Conservative MSP Peter Chapman, a former vice president of the National Farmers Union in Scotland, and Lib Dem Mike Rumbles were poised to subject Lochhead’s position to a parliamentary vote over the issue.

Sturgeon’s reply to Lochhead’s letter said he had left “a rich and enduring legacy of achievement” including efforts to tackle climate change, boosting Scotland’s food and drink and defending fishermen in Europe.

Sturgeon has already indicated she will split the finance brief with the creation of a cabinet secretary for business and the economy, leaving a finance secretary in charge of tax and government spending.

Meanwhile the SNP group at Westminster has re-elected its leadership at the group's annual general meeting. Angus Robertson MP will continue as group leader, with Stewart Hosie MP as Depute.