Scottish minister resigns to focus on wellbeing and constituency

Ben Macpherson, the Scottish Government's Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, has resigned from his ministerial post to focus on his mental and physical wellbeing and to dedicate more time to his constituency. The SNP MSP for Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith announced his decision in a letter to First Minister John Swinney on August 24, 2026.

In his resignation letter, Macpherson stated he had "reflected very deeply in recent months" about his priorities. He wrote that he needed more time to attend to "other important pressures, people and purposes, including my mental and physical wellbeing." He added that without the demands of a ministerial role, he wished to have "more time and scope to serve my constituency of Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith, and to pursue various political passions outwith government." Macpherson described the decision as "very difficult" but affirmed his continued support for the First Minister and the government.

First Minister John Swinney accepted the resignation, thanking Macpherson for his significant contributions. In his reply, Swinney highlighted Macpherson's leadership in passing the Education and Training Funding and...