Three members of Cabinet, including Shona Robison, the beleaguered Health Minister, have been swept out of Nicola Sturgeon’s government in a major reshuffle of her top team.
Ms Robison, a close friend of the First Minister, leaves after months of criticism over her handling of the NHS and in the wake of repeated calls for her to step down.
She will step down along with Keith Brown, the Economy Minister and newly elected SNP deputy leader, and Angela Constance, the Communities Minister.
Three junior ministers, Alasdair Allan, international development, Annabelle Ewing, legal affairs, and Maureen Watt, mental health, also leave the government.
Ms Robison has been heavily criticised for presiding...