Ben Macpherson, Scotland’s Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, has resigned from the Scottish Government.

In a letter to First Minister John Swinney, Macpherson said that he wished to dedicate more time to “other important pressures, people and purposes”, including to his constituency, to political interests outwith government, and his own mental and physical well-being. “I will do all that I can to support a handover to my successor,” he added.

Throughout his career, Macpherson, who is MSP for Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith, has regularly participated in strengthening ties between Scotland and China. He lived briefly in China in 2003, working as a volunteer English teacher in Wujiang. He was also previously Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development from 2018 to 2020, during which his efforts, the First Minister noted in his response, still contribute to the Scottish Government’s programme today.

Macpherson’s successor, to be named in due course, will take on a tertiary education brief with significance for Scottish educational co-operation with China.

The First Minister thanked him for a significant contribution and wished him a “stronger, more resilient place”. Macpherson remains an SNP MSP.