Sturgeon puts her stamp on a 'team of all talents'

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Credit: PA

Nicola Sturgeon has put her own stamp on her new cabinet.

First, she has ensured there is an equal number of men and women. She says that sends a gender equality message to public and private sectors.

But with the 'resignations' of Kenny MacAskill and Michael Russell she has also demonstrated she's tough.We knew she was no big softie, but this has demonstrated it.

Ms Sturgeon was asked point blank today if she had sacked the now former cabinet secretaries for justice and education.

She said that both had "intimated" the time was right for them to step down.No-one doubts that this is what Mr MacAskill and Mr Russell formally did. Eventually and, possibly, reluctantly.

However, there is a widespread feeling that both men would have stayed on if they thought they would have been kept on. Mr MacAskill took tough decisions freeing the Lockerbie bomber, creating a single Scottish police force and seeking to abolish corroboration.

All of these were controversial. All of these divided opinion. On top of that some - not all, some - saw him as abrasive.

Mr MacAskill believes he did the right thing in all of these decisions, and that he made those tough calls that had to be made.

It is clear that Ms Sturgeon hopes his successor, Michael Matheson, will be more conciliatory, at least in his approach.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon makes a statement at Bute House in Edinburgh with Richard Lochhead (Environment Secretary) and John Swinney (right) Credit: PA

Mr Russell was charged with pressing ahead with the Curriculum for Excellence reforms in education. Although that had cross-party support it has taken a long time to implement and he faced criticism for that.Some saw Mr Russell also too as abrasive, not tolerant of those he thought fools.

Mr Russell on the other hand believes he has made the new curriculum a reality and that in the long term education in Scotland will benefit.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon makes a statement at Bute House in Edinburgh in front her new cabinet Credit: PA

Angela Constance, his successor, will have to pick up this difficult brief and take it forward.

On top of that she will face claims from some opposition parties that the SNP's policy of 'free' tuition fees has benefited middle class students.This, the critics say, has been at the expense of poorer students, particularly those in colleges.