FORMER Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander has been given a second ministerial role in the Labour Government.
Alexander, who was elected to represent Lothian East in the 2024 General Election, had already been serving as a Trade Minister before his second appointment on Monday.
He will now also work as a minister in the Cabinet Office.
Downing Street said the role will see him work on engagement with the devolved administrations across the UK.
Asked about Alexander’s existing role in the Department for Business and Trade, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson replied: “It is not uncommon for ministers to cover portfolios across two departments.
“It has happened across successive administrations and it is an important part of the Plan for Change that we are focused on maximising opportunities to deliver investment and growth across the whole of the UK.
“Minister Alexander, with his existing business and trade responsibilities, is well placed to support that work.”
The news of the appointment comes after Andrew Gwynne was fired as a minister due to a series of offensive WhatsApp messages reported over the weekend. Gwynne had been in the Health Department.
Ashley Dalton, the MP for West Lancashire, has been handed his former role of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department of Health and Social Care.
Further, Claude Moraes and Phil Wilson have been appointed Government whips in the Lords.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said that Labour “maintain very high standards” when it comes to what is expected of parliamentary candidates and MPs.
Speaking to broadcasters on Monday, the Cabinet minister said: “People can be assured that the Labour Party maintains very high standards where it comes to what we expect of our candidates, of our Members of Parliament.
“And you will have seen over the weekend the Prime Minister taking swift action against Andrew Gwynne in that regard.”
Gwynne reportedly said that he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon die after she asked a councillor about bin collections, and joked about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck.
He posted on X on Saturday apologising for any offence caused, but did not suggest he would stand down as an MP.
“I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offence I’ve caused. I’ve served the Labour Party all my life and it was a huge honour to be appointed a minister by Keir Starmer,” he wrote.
