Labour’s Douglas Alexander has said it is an “honour” to remain Scottish Secretary under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, despite a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle that saw several allies of former leader Sir Keir Starmer removed from their posts.
Appointment and Cabinet Changes
Mr Alexander was appointed Scottish Secretary by Sir Keir Starmer last year and has held onto the role as Mr Burnham shapes his new-look government. The Prime Minister removed several ministers who had been associated with Sir Keir, including former Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who was replaced by ex-defence secretary John Healey.
Criticism and Response
Mr Alexander has faced criticism after the Scottish Labour Holyrood campaign he helped lead resulted in the party’s worst electoral performance since devolution. Despite this, he retained his post. He stated, “It is an honour to have been asked to continue my work as Secretary of State for Scotland.” In what he described as “challenging times,” he vowed to be “Scotland’s voice around the Cabinet table, working constructively to solve problems.” He added that he was “delighted to have the new Prime Minister’s confidence in the role.”
Background and Relations with Scottish Government
Mr Alexander returned to Westminster after the 2024 general election, nearly a decade after losing his previous seat to the SNP in 2015. He has had a strained relationship with the Scottish Government, with repeated clashes between him and First Minister John Swinney before May’s Holyrood election. However, after a call with Mr Burnham, Mr Swinney struck a more conciliatory tone, saying, “The Prime Minister signalled to me this morning that he wants to have a constructive and positive relationship with the Scottish Government and I take the Prime Minister at his word.”
Pressed on Mr Alexander’s reappointment, Mr Swinney added, “The Prime Minister’s got to make his choices about his own team, but what he said to me is that he wants to have a constructive and positive relationship with the Scottish Government and that’s what I’ll pursue.”
Political Reactions
David Linden, an MSP from the First Minister’s party, attacked the reappointment, saying Mr Alexander “pulled the wool over Starmer’s eyes and it seems he’s repeated the trick with Burnham.” He added, “Scotland doesn’t need this servant of Westminster having any say over our future – if Andy Burnham is serious about where power lies on these islands, then his first instruction to Douglas Alexander should be to respect the democratic will of the Scottish Parliament and give the Scottish people the right to decide our constitutional future.”
