Michael Moore has wished his replacement as Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael ‘all the best’ with less than a year to go until the independence referendum.
The Liberal Democrat was replacedby the Orkney and Shetland MP, who was the party’s chief whip, as part of a reshuffle by David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
Mr Moore, who was said to be “disappointed” at the decision to relegate him to the back benches, was offered a small silver lining as the Deputy Prime Minister told him he had “no doubt there will be an opportunity for your talents to be deployed” in front line government again.
A letter from Mr Clegg, which said “different experience” was required in the run-up to the referendum, revealed Mr Moore was told on Friday he was going to be axed.
The Lib Dem leader said: “As we discussed when we spoke on Friday, I believe we now need to draw on different experience in the final year running up to the referendum itself.
“I am keen that, just as we have benefited from your formidable skills over the past three years, that we take advantage of other experience within our ranks during this period.
“I am immensely grateful for all the work you have done at the Scotland Office and for the very significant contribution you have made to the first coalition government in 70 years.
“I have no doubt that there will be an opportunity for your talents to be deployed in government in the future.”
Mr Moore replied: “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.”
He added: “In leaving the Scotland Office I am pleased Alistair will be succeeding me. As a good friend and long-time colleague, I believe he will do a superb job. I wish him all the best.”
A senior Lib Dem source told The Courier Mr Carmichael’s campaigning skills were a major factor in him being moved into Dover House.
They also insisted the sacking was not a reflection on Mr Moore’s performance even though he was the only cabinet casualty in the reshuffle.
“Mike did a fantastic job and no one is saying anything other than that,” said the source. Mike is a very different personality to Alistair. He is cool, calm, gets things done and is a team player.
“He was the right person for that job but I think the Deputy Prime Minister is looking at someone with slightly different skills and experience.
“Alistair is a campaigner and is very popular, despite having been the whip.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie praised Mr Moore’s record, saying he “repeatedly outwitted Alex Salmond” but added he was “looking forward” to working with Mr Carmichael.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said the reshuffled revealed “panic” within the UK Government over the referendum and pointed out the new Scottish Secretary said his post should be abolished in 2007.
He added: “Mr Carmichael’s new role in the ‘indefensible’ Scotland Office is presumably to help spread more scare stories about Scotland and independence something the Tories must have believed Michael Moore wasn’t sufficiently adept at or committed to.”
Mr Carmichael said: “I feel privileged to take on the role at this key time. The Scotland Office and the UK Government have an important role to play over the next 11 months as we approach the referendum.
“It’s important the referendum should not be an abstract debate about nationhood. It is a crucial question of how we best shape our future together and how our lives and livelihoods are affected by the choice we make next September.
“I plan to make the strong and positive case for remaining in the UK passionately because this is an issue which truly matters to us all both now and in the future.”