LISTEN: Family first for former cabinet secretary Lochhead
Moray MSP steps down from rural affairs, food and environment after 9 years
Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead has resigned from the Scottish Cabinet. The Moray MSP has quit his post as Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment.
He told the First Minister he needed to "change the priorities" and wants to spend more time with his wife Fiona, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, as well and his children:-
A Cabinet member for nine years, Mr Lochhead has recently come under fire for his handling of the farm subsidy payments crisis, after Scottish farmers faced lengthy delays for the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies following problems with a ÂŁ178 million IT system set up to administer them.
The matter was not mentioned in letters between the MSP and the First Minister.
Mr Lochhead said, "The last few months have been challenging, both in terms of work reasons and at home with my family as my wife's being treated for a serious illness"
"There are a lot of demands, a lot of pressures, but sometimes you have to sit back and put your life into perspective"
"Being a cabinet secretary is an absolute privilege, but it's a demanding job also, you've a responsibility to the stakeholders and communities - not to mention the government"
"You have to meet those demands, and now it's time for me to reappraise my priorities"
"I've had 9 amazing years, incredible years - often tough - but now I feel the time's right to move on"