Sturgeon reshuffles the SNP pack

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Eduction Secretary Michael Russell have lost their jobs as new First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reshuffles her ministerial team.

Mr MacAskill was responsible for freeing the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi from prison in 2009.He has also been at the centre of controversy over the creation of a single Scottish police force.

Mr Russell has been in charge of major reforms to the Scottish education system through the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence.The axing of the two, both senior figures in the SNP, is part of Ms Sturgeon's plan to refresh the Scottish government after she took over as First Minister from Alex Salmond this week.

Ministers who are being promoted or given new posts have been arriving at the First Minister's official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh, this morning.

Ms Sturgeon is likely to appoint a cabinet with an equal mix of men and women as she is committed to a better gender balance at the senior levels of government.

The First Minister has already confirmed - by Twitter - that the finance secretary, John Swinney, will be her Deputy First Minister.

Health Secretary Alex Neil is in Bute House and there is a suggestion he will move to another portfolio, possibly being replaced at health by sports and equalities minister Shona Robison.

Training and women's minister Angel Constance, and environment and rural affairs minister Richard Lochhead are also in Bute House.

It is understood that transport minister Keith Brown, who has been responsible for the Borders railway, will be promoted to the Scottish Cabinet.

Public health minister Michael Matheson is also tipped for a top table position.

Roseanna Cunningham, Mr MacAskill's deputy, is also said to be in line for a promotion.

Ms Sturgeon is expected to confirm the full cabinet later this morning and announce her junior ministerial team later in the day.

At the Herald Politician awards last night Ms Sturgeon picked up the main Politician of the Year title.

She also won 'e-politician of the year' - I presented the award - and promised to do her own Tweeting, unlike her predecessor whose advisers did it for him.

The First Minister has been as good as her word and is even doing so today - complete with 'selfies' - as she re-shuffles her ministerial team.