The gloves came off in the battle over Scotland’s future yesterday as Scottish Secretary Michael Moore was sacked to make way for north MP Alistair Carmichael.
After the shock Cabinet reshuffle move, the combative member for Orkney and Shetland immediately vowed he would not “take any nonsense from anybody”.
The switch by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was widely viewed as a signal that the UK Government wants to take the fight more to the SNP in the 11 remaining months before the independence referendum.
It also means that there are now two Highlands and islands MPs sitting around the Cabinet table for the first time in modern British political history, with Mr Carmichael joining Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander.
Raised on the island of Islay and educated at Aberdeen University, the new Scottish secretary told the Press and Journal that such a presence represented a “real opportunity” for the region.
Mr Moore had been in the post for three years, overseeing last year’s Scotland Act and the Edinburgh Agreement, which paved the way for the referendum.
Mr Carmichael, who was previously the Liberal Democrat chief whip, praised his predecessor’s legacy, describing him as a “pal” who had been “incredibly gracious”. He said: “I see the next 12 months being about the referendum. It’s about opening up the referendum debate, it’s about being positive, it’s about being engaged.”
Mr Carmichael denied he had been appointed because of his “bruiser” reputation, saying: “This is a debate that matters and it’s going to have moments of real passion in it, because if it’s a debate that matters then it ought to be passionate.
“But frankly, there’s quite enough bruisers in Scottish politics as it is, so I’m hoping to bring something that’s a bit different to that.”
However, he added: “I’m still the same guy that I was last week and I’m not going to take any nonsense from anybody, and I mean absolutely anybody.”
Asked what having two Cabinet members would mean for the Highlands and islands, he said: “I think that Danny and I, in the time that we have been in government, have been able to establish ourselves as an effective voice for the Highlands and islands in Whitehall, and I think we are better placed than ever to do that now. I hope it is a real opportunity for the Highlands and islands and I hope they will see it as an opportunity too.”
The reshuffle move was welcomed by local authorities on the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, as a potential boost to their campaign for decentralisation.
“The appointment of an island MP to such a key role in the UK Government has enormous potential benefits for our campaign,” a joint statement said last night.
Mr Moore predicted his successor would do a “superb job”. He said: “This has been, and will continue to be, a hugely important time in Scottish politics and that has made it a challenging and rewarding time to be secretary of state for Scotland.”
Labour shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran, who kept her job, said of Mr Moore: “We frequently disagreed, but he has made a significant contribution to the referendum debate and Scottish politics over the past two years.”
Angus Robertson, Moray MP and SNP Westminster leader, described Mr Moore’s sacking as a “panic reaction”.