Former Labour cabinet minister Douglas Alexander is reportedly seeking to return as an MP at the next general election, marking a potential comeback for a senior figure from the Blair and Brown years. Sources confirmed to the Guardian that Alexander has applied to be the Labour candidate for East Lothian, a key target seat in Scotland.
Alexander, who served under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, lost his Paisley and Renfrewshire seat to the SNP's Mhairi Black in the 2015 election. Since then, he has been a senior fellow at Harvard University. Allies believe his experience in government could be valuable if Labour wins the next election, given that only two shadow cabinet members—Yvette Cooper and Ed Miliband—have held cabinet posts.
Alexander is not alone in considering a return. Other former cabinet ministers, including David Miliband and Ed Balls, have been the subject of speculation. Miliband, who quit his seat in 2013, recently said a return had not been decided. Balls, who lost his seat in 2015, has ruled out a comeback for now but has not entirely dismissed the possibility.
However, some Labour insiders are wary of a return by David Miliband, who was seen as a future prime minister before losing the leadership contest to his brother. Alexander is viewed more favourably by senior figures close to leader Keir Starmer, as he fought and lost his seat in 2015, while Miliband resigned in 2013.
East Lothian is Labour's top target in Scotland, having been held by the party until the SNP landslide in 2015. The seat is currently held by Alba's Kenny MacAskill, who won for the SNP in 2019 with a 3,886-vote majority. Alexander faces competition from other candidates, including former Labour adviser Gregor Poynton and Gordon Brown's ex-speechwriter Kirsty McNeill.
