Helen Liddell has left the government after her position as Scotland secretary was scrapped in a post-devolution bonfire of departments.

The decision to merge the Scotland the Wales Offices into an overarching constitutional affairs ministry was widely seen as inevitable following devolution.

In future, transport secretary Alistair Darling will answer Scottish questions in the House of Commons, while Lord Falconer will head a new Department of Constitutional Affairs.

But her departure deprives the Cabinet of one of the few remaining women.

A combative politician, Liddell had let it be known that she did not have enough to do in her post-devolution department.

Stories that she spent her days learning French or planning foreign trips only served to undermine her position.

A former Treasury minister, Liddell was widely seen as capable although her abrasive style proved a handicap.

Despite rumours that she was sacked, Liddell insisted the decision to quit was her's alone.

"When we spoke in January, I told you my mind was moving on to other things," she wrote in her resignation letter to Tony Blair.

"After six years in government I want to reclaim my private life, not least to allow me to enjoy more time with my husband, my family and friends."

Liddell's resignation and the subsequent constitutional reorganisation prompted vicious criticism from the Scottish National Party.

SNP Westminster leader Alex Salmond said it was a "dog's breakfast of a reshuffle".

"No-one will regret the departure of Helen Liddell and the Scotland Office, which was a vast waste of resources," he said.

"But it is utterly extraordinary that an unelected peer will have Cabinet responsibility for Scotland - the first time since Lord Rosebery was a caretaker Scottish Secretary for a few weeks in 1945.

"Scotland has lost Stalin's Granny and inherited Tony's crony - whose only previous claim to fame was to be minister for the disastrous London Dome."

The Conservatives however said it was a "sad day to see the end of the historic role of the Scotland Office".

"This is an unsatisfactory botch-job. It downgrades the interests of the people of Scotland because there is a need for Scotland's affairs to be fully represented in the Cabinet," Scottish spokeswoman Jacqui Lait said.

But Scotland's first minister Jack McConnell backed the move. "I strongly believe that this new arrangement is the right decision by the prime minister," he said.

"With devolution in Scotland now in a second term, the time is right to further change arrangements at Westminster."

He also paid tribute to Liddell as she left office. "I would like to thank Helen Liddell for the close working relationship we have enjoyed in my 18 months as first minister," he said.

"She served Scotland well and I wish her all the best."