Opposition claim victory after Salmond 'blinks'

Published on Wednesday 2 December 2009 08:40

OPPOSITION leaders at Holyrood have claimed they called Alex Salmond's bluff over the future of Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop – and won.

Ms Hyslop was removed from her post by the First Minister yesterday after the Liberal Democrats said they would table a vote of no confidence in her, which Labour and the Tories would have supported.

Mr Salmond had threatened the whole Cabinet would resign en masse and force an election, but opposition leaders seemed determined to press ahead regardless.

The First Minister then announced Michael Russell would take over as Education Secretary and Ms Hyslop would take over his role as Minister for Culture and External Affairs.

Labour leader Iain Gray said the First Minister had "blinked", while Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott said Mr Salmond had bowed to pressure.

Meanwhile, a new poll claims the SNP could take key seats from Labour in Scotland at the next general election, but most Scots said a Labour win at Westminster would be "best for Scotland", compared to how the country could fare after a Tory victory.