FORMER Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander has joined Keir Starmer’s Cabinet as business minister.
Alexander has returned to Westminster after losing his seat in 2015 as he was elected MP for Lothian East on Friday.
The veteran Labour man was a longtime Cabinet member under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
He served in several roles in the past Labour government including transport secretary and international development secretary.
Alexander joins former home secretary Jacqui Smith, who was appointed to the House of Lords and given the role of Higher Education Minister, as the Blair and Brown era politicians to join Starmer’s Cabinet.
In a statement online he wrote: “It is a huge privilege to be asked to serve and I’m really looking forward to getting down to work.”
He joins Ian Murray (below), who was made Scottish Secretary, in Starmer’s top team.
The new Prime Minister appointed his full Cabinet on Friday which saw Angela Rayner become Deputy Prime Minister as well as Housing, Levelling Up and Communities Secretary.
David Lammy was appointed Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper was made Home Secretary while Rachel Reeves made history as she became the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer.
