Boris Johnson has downgraded his defence of the Union by failing to appoint a back-up Minister at the Scotland Office during the cabinet reshuffle.
The Prime Minister dismissed Scottish Tory MP David Duguid as a junior Minister at the Scotland Office last Friday, but did not replace him.
Duguid, the MP for Banff and Buchan, was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, a number two to Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, and also an assistant whip.
Iain Stewart MP, a Scot who represents Milton Keynes, remains as an Under Secretary in the Whitehall department but a third Minister has not been appointed.
With Johnson’s reshuffle complete, the move has led to speculation that the post will not be filled or that the Prime Minister had difficulty finding a willing replacement from the remaining five Scottish Tory MPs.
Douglas Ross is the party’s Scottish leader and David Mundell, no ally of Johnson’s, has previously been Scottish Secretary.
Andrew Bowie, formerly a private secretary to Theresa May, and Borders MP John Lamont were overlooked in the reshuffle.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman was unable to provide any clarification but Whitehall insiders expect that there could be another appointment “in due course”.
Speculation that the post could have been offered to Baroness Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish party leader, who now sits in the Lords has been ruled out.
Davidson, an arch critic of Johnson, discounted herself from taking on any major role while her son, Finn, is an infant.
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
