KEIR Starmer has named Douglas Alexander as the new Scottish Secretary after firing Ian Murray.
Murray was kicked out of the UK Government in a shock move on Friday afternoon, as the Prime Minister began a wider reshuffle of his Cabinet.
Responding to the firing, which reportedly happened over the phone, Murray emphasised how he had twice been Labour's sole MP in Scotland.
"I am hugely disappointed to be leaving government, with so much done and so much more to do," he added.
Alexander, who served as Scottish Secretary under Tony Blair from 2006-2007, was confirmed as his replacement just after 5pm.
The MP for Lothian East had been a junior minister in both the Cabinet Office and the Trade Department, leaving the two roles now open.
Alexander lost his Paisley and Renfrewshire South Westminster seat to the young SNP candidate Mhairi Black in a surprise upset in 2015, returning to parliament in 2024.
He had served in both Blair and Gordon Brown's government, with roles also including transport secretary and international development secretary.
He is currently the co-chair of Scottish Labour's election campaign for next year's Holyrood elections, LBC reported.
Murray's ousting was reportedly a shock for Scottish Labour, with party grandee George Foulkes calling the decision to sack him "disgraceful".
"He held the fort well as shadow secretary through the lean years and has been a brilliant Secretary of State," Foulkes added.
However, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar congratulated Alexander on being appointed to the role.
“I know Douglas will use his experience, knowledge and skills to demonstrate that a UK Labour government is delivering for Scotland," he said.
In a statement released alongside Sarwar's, Alexander said he wanted to "to pay tribute to my friend and colleague Ian Murray".
“Ian held the line against the SNP when no one else could and quite literally gave the Labour Party in Scotland a voice when it needed it most,” he said.
“As I take on this role, I do so with determination to deliver on the ambitions of people across Scotland,” Alexander added. “Delivering for them will always be my first priority.”
Elsewhere in the reshuffle, Lucy Powell was also removed from her role as the leader of the House of Commons. Her and Murray were the only two ministers to be sacked.
Angela Rayner resigned as deputy prime minister and housing minister after scrutiny of her tax affairs.
And Poppy Gustafsson, who took a life peerage in the Lords in order to become investment minister, is to quit in the coming days after less than a year in the role, Sky News reported.
