Graeme Dey resignation

Transport Minister Graeme Dey tendered his resignation from the Scottish Government for health reasons on 24 January 2022.  The text of letters between Mr Dey and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon are below. 

Letter from Graeme Dey to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Dear First Minister

It has been an absolute privilege to serve as a Minister in your government, firstly as Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans and latterly, as Minister for Transport. I will forever be appreciative of having had these opportunities to support you in your role as First Minister.

As you know, I have always prided myself on being able to give 100% to any task I am charged with. 

Regrettably, despite my continuing passion for it, I find myself unable now to give this hugely important ministerial role everything it rightly requires and deserves.

It is therefore with regret that I am writing to resign from office as Minister for Transport in the Scottish Government.

This is entirely for personal reasons relating to my health and wellbeing.

I regret the inconvenience this will cause you and my colleagues in the government, while we seek to recover from the pandemic.

I know that I am leaving the role at an exciting time as we take forward our Mission Zero ambition for transport as part of the work to make Scotland a Net Zero Nation by 2045.

I hope that in some small way, I have managed to contribute towards that agenda, and more generally to furthering our shared, wider ambitions for Scotland.

It has been the honour of my life to serve you, to serve in an SNP government, and to serve Scotland as a Minister.

In the immediate future, I intend to focus on improving my health and wellbeing and on giving more attention to my family, while also continuing as MSP for Angus South to serve the needs and interests of the people of the constituency. Please also be assured of my commitment to support the government's work and priorities as a member of the SNP parliamentary group. 

Yours, Aye for Scotland

Graeme Dey

Response from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to Graeme Dey

Dear Graeme

Thank you for your letter.

You are of course right to prioritise your personal health and while you will be missed in government, you have my full support for the decision you have taken. You leave government with my thanks and best wishes, and with many achievements to your name.

As Minister for Parliament and Veterans, you successfully navigated a period of minority government winning the trust and confidence of all parties in parliament as you did so. As Transport Minister, you made a significant contribution to the successful hosting of COP26. You have also extended concessionary travel to young people, introduced bold plans to reduce car miles to support our climate ambitions, and prepared the ground for the return of Scotland’s railways to public ownership.

I know that you had a particularly strong commitment to your previous work with Scotland’s veterans - securing additional funding for veteran services - and I have no doubt that you will continue to advocate for our veteran community in parliament.

Your counsel has been hugely valuable both to me and to other Ministers, and I know our colleagues in the parliamentary group will now benefit from your contribution as a backbencher.

I look forward to seeing you in Parliament soon, where I know your will serve your constituents and the country - and, of course, our cause of an independent Scotland - with drive and commitment.

Nicola Sturgeon