Lib Dem Scottish Secretary Axed In Reshuffle

Senior Lib Dems have been axed from the Government as all three main party leaders reshuffle their teams ahead of Parliament reconvening.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg wielded the axe as David Cameron looked to promote more northern MPs and women to his top team.

Lib Dem Scotland Secretary Michael Moore was replaced by Alistair Carmichael to provide a tougher approach as the independence referendum looms.

And in one of the biggest shocks so far, Home Office minister Jeremy Browne - tipped as a possible future party leader - was also axed.

Michael Moore (left) has been replaced by Alistair Carmichael

He has been replaced with Norman Baker who moves from Transport, where he could prove a thorn in the side of Home Secretary Theresa May.

Don Foster, Lib Dem MP for Bath, replaces Mr Carmichael as his party's Chief Whip and Baroness Susan Kramer takes Mr Baker's old job.

Mr Cameron's biggest moves include promotions for Esther McVey, Sajid Javid and Greg Hands but the top Cabinet roles have so far been untouched. 

Labour leader Ed Miliband is likely to make some high-profile changes to his shadow cabinet later, with Andy Burnham and Liam Byrne said to be in danger of demotion.

Tories Deputy Chief Whip John Randall, Cabinet Office Minister Chloe Smith and Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon are all returning to the backbenches.

Simon Burns has also already stood down as Transport Minister to that he can launch a bid to become a Commons Deputy Speaker.

Ms McVey has been pushed up the ranks at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), becoming Employment Minister.

Mr Hands, a close ally of Chancellor George Osborne, also climbs the ladder - going from assistant whip to Deputy Chief Whip.

Promoted: Tories Esther McVey and Sajid Javid in Downing Street on Monday

Greg Clark has been moved from the Treasury to become a Cabinet Office Minister responsible for cities and constitutional reform.

And former Northern Ireland minister Mike Penning has become a Work and Pensions minister.

Mr Randall, Tory MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip and part of the whips office for 13 years, indicated last year that he wanted to step aside.

The 58-year-old was embroiled in the "Plebgate" row last year, threatening to resign if Andrew Mitchell refused to quit.

In his resignation letter, he told Mr Cameron he had "nothing but the deepest admiration for you as a person, leader and Prime Minister".

The Prime Minister called him a "rock" and said he "had rather hoped this day would never come".

Out: Tories John Randall and Chloe Smith have resigned

Ms Smith, MP for Norwich North, was only elected to the Commons in 2009 at the age of just 27 but was quickly promoted to the ministerial ranks.

As economic secretary, she endured a toe-curling interview with Jeremy Paxman on BBC Newsnight when she struggled to explain a fuel duty freeze.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, she said: "I have been privileged to serve my country and my party under your leadership.

"However, for the remainder of the Parliament I want to be able to spend more time serving my constituents."

Sky Political Correspondent Anushka Asthana said: "David Cameron has talked before about wanting to have a third of his cabinet female and so far he only has four Cabinet secretaries are women.

"What he will want to do today is move women up the ranks ready to go into Cabinet. Today they are focusing on middle-minister rankings.

"We are also likely to see northern and working-class MPs moving up. People are calling this a flat-cap reshuffle."

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