Scotland’s new secretary of state, Douglas Alexander, has said Labour can “disprove the critics and cynics” by mounting a recovery ahead of next year’s Holyrood election. Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Alexander admitted his party was trailing in the polls but insisted it could fight back through “hard work, humility and listening to people.” He also accused the SNP-led government of failing Scotland’s public services. His comments follow a turbulent reshuffle in Westminster triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation as deputy prime minister. The changes saw Alexander replace Ian Murray — Scottish Labour’s longest-serving MP and a close ally of Anas Sarwar — at the Scotland Office. The decision sparked criticism inside Labour ranks, though Murray has since been handed junior roles in the culture and technology departments. The SNP and Conservatives both seized on the turmoil, branding Westminster “chaotic” and “shambolic.”
Alexander’s Return and Message to Voters
Alexander, who represented Paisley and Renfrewshire South from 1997 to 2015 before returning to Parliament last year as MP for Lothian East, said Labour must reconnect with voters in time for 2026. “We were written off in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election… yet we came back,” he said. “We will come back in Scotland the same way — by hard work, by humility, by listening to people, doing the work on the ground, and making the arguments directly.” He argued that Scottish voters were “far more ambitious than the Scottish government today” and urged activists to focus on disproving those who doubt Labour’s prospects.
Tribute to Ian Murray
Despite replacing him, Alexander paid tribute to his predecessor. “We owe him, as the Labour movement in Scotland, an immense debt of gratitude,” he said. Murray, who was openly disappointed at his dismissal, has been moved into a dual ministerial role spanning culture and science. Senior Labour figures had described his sacking as “a disgraceful decision” and “a real loss.”
Political Stakes for Labour
Alexander’s appointment also comes with his role as co-chair of Scottish Labour’s campaign for the next Holyrood election — a contest that could shape Sir Keir Starmer’s future as prime minister. A poor showing could hand the SNP renewed momentum for independence and weaken Labour’s standing across the UK. Commentators warn that while the reshuffle unsettled activists, the party cannot afford disunity in the run-up to the vote.
Criticism From Rivals
The SNP dismissed Alexander’s return as uninspiring. Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter said Alexander had been “very negative about Scotland” during the 2014 independence referendum and would not deliver a “positive agenda.” He insisted Scotland would be better off independent and accused Westminster of “doing very little” for the country. Scottish Conservatives were equally scathing. Deputy leader Rachael Hamilton branded Labour “in complete meltdown,” accusing Starmer of “weakness” after Murray’s abrupt removal and reappointment to a junior post. She said Alexander’s role amounted to that of “a yes man” who would deliver “more of the same broken promises.”
