Wendy Alexander

Scottish first minister, Jack McConnell, has denied that his executive's economic strategy has been blown off course by the resignation of former enterprise minister Wendy Alexander.

Questioned on the issue during first minister's questions in the Scottish parliament, McConnell said his cabinet remained committed to its program.

"These people are right, the strategy is right, we intend to continue with it. Everybody, all MSPs in this partnership here on these benches, are going to be supporting that strategy in the years ahead," he told MSPs.

But Scottish National Party leader John Swinney said McConnell's confidence failed to ring true.

"That would be all very well if the enterprise minister hadn't decided to resign in the last seven days and question the whole direction of the government," he said.

Swinney said the first minister had described Alexander as a minister with "commitment and expertise".

"What makes someone of that commitment and expertise act in the manner that she did?" he asked, adding that she had concealed her resignation for four months.

"Is it because Wendy Alexander is somehow a uniquely spiteful person, or is it because she knows there is something rotten at the heart of the McConnell government?

"Isn't it because she knows the first minister is a man more interested in operating like a cynical machine politician rather than governing in the interests of everyone in Scotland?"

But McConnell told the SNP leader he couldn't "hide the fact that you don't have an economic strategy with that kind of abuse".

He said the Scottish executive's strategy was to improve Scotland's growth rate in the years ahead.

"What is important I think is the jobs of other people, not the jobs of politicians...We've all got, in this cabinet and I hope everybody in the chamber, got difficult jobs to do," said McConnell.

"But the people with the really difficult jobs to do are those who are working on night shifts across Scotland earning minimum wages and trying to feed a family.

"Our job in this parliament is to make sure their jobs are more secure and better in the years to come, and that's what we'll set about doing."

Annabel Goldie, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservative MSPs, also questioned McConnell's insistence that his economic strategy was on track.

"Unfortunately, given where it comes from, it has all the ringing conviction of me expressing a desire to enter the Ms World contest. As an aspiration it may fair take the breath away, but as an implementable strategy, utterly incapable of attainment," she said.

She said businesses were losing confidence in the Scottish executive - with business failures soaring.

McConnell said the executive was "doing all we can" to ensure minimal regulation of businesses and was investing more in improving the infrastructure.

He said there were positives in the Scottish economy.

"Let's talk them up rather than talk Scotland down," said the first minister.

Wendy Alexander, a Brownite who did not enjoy good relations with McConnell, announced last Friday that she had taken the decision to stand down in the new year.

In her letter of resignation she said: "We have worked together for over 20 years and over that time your commitment to achieving real and positive change in the lives of people across Scotland and elsewhere has been one that we have shared.

"I now however, feel the time is right for me to stand down from ministerial office and ask you to accept my resignation from the Scottish cabinet.

"In so doing, I am acting on a decision that I took at the turn of the year, but I was committed to first fulfilling the task you asked of me in preparing the new transport strategy and I was also determined to avoid adding unnecessary pressures on colleagues in your administration's early months."

Edinburgh Pentlands MSP Iain Gray took over the position of minister for enterprise, transport and lifelong learning following Alexander's decision to quit.