NICOLA Sturgeon’s chief of staff has taken a "slightly extended break" following the Scottish Parliament election.
Liz Lloyd, who has served as the First Minister’s top aide since she became leader in 2014, has enjoyed a "holiday" but says she will be back to work soon.
Her duties are being carried out by the Scottish Government’s head of policy, Colin McAllister, who was named acting chief of staff.
A spokesperson for the First Minister said: “Liz Lloyd is taking a period of leave following the election.
“The First Minister has asked Colin McAllister to take on the role as acting Chief of Staff until Ms Lloyd’s return to government.”
READ MORE: Michael Russell set to take on a key role in SNP campaign for independence
After the Scotsman reported Lloyd was taking a leave of absence for an unspecified amount of time, she replied on Twitter: "Otherwise known as a holiday. Thanks to [Colin McAllister] and the spad team for covering a slightly extended break and to Skye, The Borders and The Cairngorms for being gorgeous and relaxing. Back soon x #visitscotland".
Lloyd, as well as SNP chief executive Peter Murrell and permanent secretary Leslie Evans, faced demands to quit during the Holyrood probe into the Government’s botched handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond.
The former First Minister claimed that Lloyd leaked the name of one of the complainers to his former chief of staff Geoff Aberdein – prompting the Scottish Tories to call for her to be sacked.
Claims that Lloyd – formerly a senior adviser to MSPs Jim Mather and Alyn Smith – “interfered” in the Government’s probe were dismissed as “fundamentally untrue”.
Lloyd’s absence comes as Michael Russell takes up a new position at the head of the SNP’s independence campaign.
The party president and former minister, who stood down from Holyrood in May, has been appointed as political director of the party HQ independence unit.
It is the first major announcement on the SNP’s independence campaign following the election.
Sturgeon tweeted that she was delighted that a meeting of the SNP’s National Executive Committee had approved her nomination of Russell for the role.
“He will oversee the development of the party’s independence campaign, as we look ahead to #indyref2 later in this parliament,” she added Russell said he was pleased to take on the political direction of the work on independence.
He said: “Look forward to working with the vast range of enthusiastic talent, within & outwith the party, which is committed to a positive, inclusive – & successful – #indyref2 campaign.”
EDIT: This story incorrectly referred to Colin McAllister as the SNP's head of policy. He is the Scottish Government's head of policy. The article has now been updated to reflect this.
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