Michael Moore sacked in Lib Dem reshuffle MICHAEL Moore has been sacked as Scottish Secretary and replaced by Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael. The surprise move by Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg comes as part of a wider reshuffle of the Coalition government although mr Moore is the only cabinet casualty. The long expected reshuffle was heralded last night by the resignation of two junior Tory ministers Chloe Smith from the Cabinet Office and Deputy Chief Whip John Randall who were both tipped for the sack. However, colleagues are "shocked and surprised" by the removal of Mr Moore who has been widely praised for his handling of the Scotland Bill handing more powers to Holyrood and the first part of the referendum campaign. Mr Clegg, who informed Mr Moore of his decision on Friday, had decided Mr Carmichael's campaigning skills means he is better suited for the run in to the referendum in September next year. Mr Carmichael was the coalition deputy chief whip and had previously been tipped for Mr Moore's job but stayed in his role to guide the party through difficult votes such as tuition fees and English NHS reform. He is known as a tough campaigner and has a much more assertive style than Mr Moore. A government insider admitted that the Lib Dems also have an eye to the 2015 general election where they have 11 seats in Scotland to defend and want a proven campaigner to lead the fight north of the Border. Business minister Jo Swinson's West Dumbartonshire seat is vulnerable as is Gordon where Sir Malcolm Bruce is retiring and Edinburgh West where Mike Crockart is facing a stiff challenge from Labour. Mr Moore, who was promoted just a few weeks into the government to replace Danny Alexander when he moved to the Treasury, will now return to the backbenches. In an exchange of letters Mr Clegg said "different experience" was required in the run-up to the independence referendum as he sacked Michael Moore from his post as Scottish secretary. The Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat leader left the door open for a possible return to the front bench for Mr Moore in future, telling him he had "no doubt there will be an opportunity for your talents to be deployed" in government again. Mr Clegg said Mr Moore became Scottish Secretary at a "critical time" in the country's relationship with the rest of the UK and "managed the challenges of the situation with great skill and effectiveness." But he added: "As we discussed when we spoke on Friday, I believe we now need to draw on different experience in the final year running up to the referendum itself and I am keen that, just as we have benefited from your formidable skills over the past three years, that we take advantage of other experience within our ranks during this period. I am immensely grateful for all the work you have done at the Scotland Office and for the very significant contribution you have made to the first coalition government in 70 years. I have no doubt that there will be an opportunity for your talents to be deployed in government in the future. Mr Moore replied: "This has been, and will continue to be, a hugely important time in Scottish politics and that has made it a challenging and rewarding time to be Secretary of State for Scotland." He added: "In leaving the Scotland Office I am pleased that Alistair will be succeeding me. As a good friend and long-time colleague, I believe he will do a superb job. I wish him all the best. The SNP pointed out that when he was the Lib Dem's shadow Scottish Secretary Mr Carmichael said the continuation of the Scotland Office was "indefensible." SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP said: "Michael Moore was a courteous opponent, and he can take pride in the constructive role he played in the negotiation of the Edinburgh Agreement, which helped paved the way for next year's independence referendum. I wish him well for the future. He latched on to suggestions that Mr Moore may have lost his job after coming second best in a debate with SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. He ssaid: "Nicola Sturgeon bested Mr Moore in a Scottish television referendum debate earlier this year, and the fact that the case for Yes has now prevailed over No in a series of broadcast debates may have played a role in what can only be viewed as a panic reaction by the UK Government in sacking him." But he added: "The problem for the No campaign isn't the messenger - it is the unremittingly negative nature of its message, best summed up by people in the No campaign itself as "Project Fear." This week's defence paper - spouting fears and smears, and threatening to annex Scotland's army units on the heels of the absurd threat to annex Faslane - is just the latest example of Westminster's Project Fear. He went on: "Embarrassingly for the UK Government, the new Secretary of State for Scotland believes in the abolition of his post and entire department. He called the continued existence of the Scotland Office post-devolution "indefensible" - we agree, and trust that Alistair Carmichael will stand by the trenchant views he expressed before the Lib Dems jumped into coalition with the Tories." Eddie Barnes: Michael Moore's dismissal a reminder of "rough old game" of politics