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Ben Macpherson has been appointed minister for higher and further education in the Scottish government, in a mini reshuffle triggered by a Holyrood bust-up.

Graeme Dey, who had held the post since March 2023, has been appointed minister parliamentary business and for veterans, following the resignation of Jamie Hepburn.

Hepburn resigned after being accused of assaulting a fellow MSP, former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, after a row about seagulls. He admitted that his conduct ¡°fell well short¡± of the standards he expected himself, acknowledging that he had used ¡°industrial language¡± towards Ross, but denied assaulting him.

The appointment means Dey heads back to a role he previously held between 2018 and 2021, and a return to government for Macpherson, the MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith.

A graduate of the universities of York and Edinburgh, Macpherson held a series of posts under former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, most recently minister for social security and local government, before leaving government in March 2023.

The former lawyer inherits pressing concerns over the state of Scottish higher education finances, with the greatest spotlight on the University of Dundee, which had to be bailed out by the taxpayer.

The topic is likely to rise up the political agenda ahead of Holyrood elections next year, but all the main parties have limited room for manoeuvre, having pledged not to charge tuition fees in Scotland.

A behind-closed-doors cross-party discussion on the future of the sector, chaired by Dey in June, was seen as a first step towards a more sustainable funding settlement.

First minister John Swinney said that he was ¡°delighted¡± to make the appointments.

¡°Ben Macpherson has wide experience across a range of policy areas and will bring a creative and dynamic leadership to higher and further education that is so fundamental to transforming the lives of individuals across the country, and to supporting this government¡¯s ambitious economic agenda,¡± Swinney said.

The first minister added that Dey ¡°brings wide experience of handling parliamentary business to this role and is a minister widely respected across the parliamentary chamber for his open and constructive approach to finding common ground¡±.

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com