THREE cabinet secretaries and three ministers are to leave the Scottish Government in a sweeping reshuffle.

Health Secretary Shona Robison, Communities Secretary Angela Constance, and Economy Secretary Keith Brown are all out, the Scottish Government confirmed.

Ms Robison and Ms Constance - who had been tipped for the chop - wrote to Nicola Sturgeon to confirm their resignations. 

The First Minister paid tribute to their work. She is due to announce her new Cabinet later.

Also sacked are International Development minister Dr Alasdair Allan, Community Safety minister Annabelle Ewing, and mental health minister Maureen Watt.

The end of Ms Robison’s tenure as health secretary had been widely predicted given grim waiting time statistics and scandals at her local health board, NHS Tayside.

Her departure coincided with the BMA in Scotland claiming the NHS was being “pushed to the brink”,  the worst waiting times for cancer treatment in six years, and an investigation confirming a culture of “bullying and harassment” at NHS Lothian - a not untypical day.

In her resignation letter to Ms Sturgeon, Mr Robison said her three and a half years in the post had been an immense privilege “albeit at times very challenging and all consuming”.

She said her last year had been “particularly challenging” on a personal level, as she had lost both parents, had a health scare of her own, and seen other “big changes” in her life.

“I thank you for your support during these difficult times,” she wrote.

“I feel that I have reached a point in my life just now where I would be best to step down from a role in Government. I have entered a new chapter in my life, including a new relationship, where it would be good to take time to focus on those closest to me, who have too often had to come second place to my job, which has hard for us all.”

She said her proudest achievement was seeing a minimum unit pricing for alcohol enforced.

In reply, Ms Sturgeon said Ms Robison had “served with distinction” over her 11 years in government, and said her time as health secretary had ended with high levels of patient satisfaction and the lowest A&E waiting times in the UK for three years.

She also said the integration of health and social care was to her “immense credit”.

She wrote: “I know that recent years have brought a number of personal challenges for you, including the loss of both your parents and health worries of your own, among other issues.

“Despite this, you continued to serve the people of Scotland with dedication, just as you did your loved ones. I am delighted to wish you every happiness in your new relationship.”

Ms Sturgeon’s correspondence with Ms Constance lacked any such warmth, and Ms Constance offered no reason for leaving, strongly suggesting she was sacked.

The Almond Valley MSP said it had been an honour to serve in government for eight years, and said she had been particularly proud of her work on affordable homes, social security, gender recognition on public boards, gypsy travellers and child poverty.

“I have been very lucky throughout my political life to have had the support of my family and there is no doubt that without them I couldn’t have undertaken the many roles I have had the privilege of occupying,” she wrote.

“I look forward to spending more times with them and my growing son.”

In rely, Ms Sturgeon said Ms Constance had worked “tirelessly to give a voice at the Cabinet table to those who are not always heard in society”.

She said: “The fact Scotland has received international recognition for the work we have done to support refugees, on LGBTI+ rights, on women’s right and many other areas is in no small part down to your leadership.”

Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “It’s now a year since Nicola Sturgeon promised a refresh of her government, so this reshuffle has been a long time coming.

“There may well have been a few ministerial changes.

“But this is an SNP government that is tired, completely out of ideas and all over the place on key issues. The people of Scotland are coming to the view that Nicola Sturgeon’s time is up.”

Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie said he admired the dedication of former ministers.
However he added: “Nevertheless, change was required in the leadership of our NHS.

“We have seen long waiting times, a shortage of nurses and doctors and mental health service reform that fails to match up to what is required. If the change in the ministerial team is not matched by a change of policy then our NHS will continue to decline.”