Douglas Alexander has described his reappointment as Scottish Secretary, almost 20 years on from his first time in the role, as a “real honour”.

The Lothian East MP, who was trade minister before his move to the Scotland Office, replaces Ian Murray, who was sacked as part of the Prime Minister’s reshuffle.

Murray, the long serving MP for Edinburgh South MP, said he was “hugely disappointed” to lose his place in government.

Labour veteran Alexander previously served a stint as Scottish Secretary from 2006 to 2007 under Tony Blair’s premiership.

First elected to Parliament as part of the New Labour landslide of 1997, Alexander stepped away from front line politics in 2015 when he lost his seat in Paisley and Renfrewshire South to the SNP’s Mhairi Black, who was then only 20.

He returned

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