AN SNP MSP who served as a minister under Nicola Sturgeon has declined to take a government position under Humza Yousaf.
Ben Macpherson held a range of posts in the previous Scottish government, most recently serving as the minister for social security and local government since the May 2021 Holyrood elections.
However, he has refused to take on a new brief under Yousaf’s new-look Cabinet.
Macpherson wrote on Twitter on Wednesday evening: “After serving in four @scotgov ministerial roles in five years, today I’ve respectfully declined a fifth.
“I believe I’ve served well and reliably, and I’m proud of all that I’ve helped to deliver through challenging times.
“I wish the new FM, DFM and colleagues success. It’s been an honour.”
After serving in 4 @scotgov Ministerial roles in 5 years, today I’ve respectfully declined a 5th. I believe I’ve served well & reliably, & I’m proud of all that I’ve helped to deliver through challenging times. I wish the new FM, DFM & colleagues success. It’s been an honour.
— Ben Macpherson MSP (@BenMacpherson) March 29, 2023
Unconfirmed reports suggest he wanted a Cabinet role and had been offered the transport brief, which Yousaf has faced criticism for dropping from that top level.
It would have been the SNP MSP's fifth different government role in as many years.
Macpherson’s rejection comes after Ivan McKee and Kate Forbes also declined to take roles in Yousaf’s government. Unlike those two however, Macpherson had backed Yousaf to win the leadership election.
Tipped as a possible outside bet early-on, Macpherson declined to run but instead put out a call for a more gradualist approach to independence, saying Scotland is not yet ready to leave the Union for good.
Asked for his response to the arguments during the SNP leadership campaign, Yousaf said: “I don’t agree with the approach set out. I will never put independence on the backburner.
“In the face of the Tory cost-of-living crisis and Westminster’s attacks on Scotland’s democracy, the need for independence is more urgent now than ever before.
“Be in no doubt, as SNP leader and Scotland’s next First Minister, I will take the fight to Westminster by kickstarting the Yes campaign in my first week in office, mobilising the wider Yes movement.”
