Scottish secretary sacked as Starmer reshuffles cabinet in wake of Rayner resignation

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Ian Murray sacked as Scottish secretary as Keir Starmer reshuffles cabinet
Angela Rayner resigns as deputy PM following investigation after she underpaid the tax on a seaside flat
Douglas Alexander appointed as new Scottish secretary
David Lammy has been appointed deputy PM and handed the justice brief
Yvette Cooper becomes foreign secretary while Shabana Mahmood becomes home secretary
Murray ‘hugely disappointed to be leaving government’
‘Scotland desperately needs a new direction at Holyrood’, outgoing Scottish secretary says

Ian Murray has been sacked as Scottish secretary and has been replaced by Douglas Alexander amid a cabinet reshuffle.

Murray, the Edinburgh South MP, was appointed to the position in July 2024, following the Labour party’s landslide victory in the General Election.

The reshuffle of Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet follows the resignation of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner on Friday morning.

Rayner, who was also housing secretary, stood down after admitting that she underpaid stamp duty on the £800,000 flat she bought in Hove earlier this year.

She said she “deeply regretted” the decision to not seek “additional specialist tax advice” over stamp duty on the property, stressing it was never her intention “to do anything other than pay the right amount” as she resigned.

Politics

Angela Rayner resigns amid stamp duty row over flat

The deputy prime minister said she received inaccurate tax advice in regards to her complex property arrangements involving her disabled son.

As a result of the reshuffle, Murray lost his position as secretary of state for Scotland on Friday afternoon.

Under the role, Murray was the custodian of the Scottish devolution settlement, represented Scottish interests within the UK Government and advocated for the UK Government’s policies in Scotland.

Murray has been an MP for Edinburgh South continuously since May 2010. He served as the shadow secretary of State for Scotland from 2015 to 2016 and from 2020 to 2024.

A critic of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, Murray has campaigned against Scottish independence and won the backing of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown during an unsuccessful bid for the Labour deputy leadership in 2020.

Speaking following his appointment, Alexander said: “It’s a real honour to have been appointed Secretary of State for Scotland by Sir Keir Starmer.

“I look forward to playing a key role in delivering the UK Government’s Plan for Change by boosting economic growth, putting more money in pockets and making life better for people in Scotland.

“There is a huge amount to be done, and I’m very much looking forward to making sure that Scotland continues to be at the very centre of the government’s work – including on our drive to clean power and ensuring our country’s security.”

Murray statement in full

In a statement following the move, Murray said it was a “privilege to play a pivotal role in bringing Labour back to power in Westminster” after “many years as the sole Scottish Labour MP”.

He described being asked to serve as the first Labour secretary of state for Scotland in 14 years as “the honour of his lifetime”.

The statement adds: “Over the past year I have worked tirelessly with my wonderful political and civil service team at the Scotland Office, to put Scotland at the heart of this UK Government. Together, we have already delivered so much for Scotland.

“I am really proud of what we have achieved from the £10bn frigate deal with Norway, the UK supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh, the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution, GB Energy in Aberdeen, saving the Harland & Wolff yards, our Brand Scotland campaign, and putting the Scotland Office back into the service of ordinary working Scots.

“After the dreadful legacy from the previous government, there is a lot more to work to do and I will continue to make sure more jobs and opportunities come to Scotland from the backbenches, from where Keir Starmer and the government will have my full support.

“I will remain as impatient for change as the public. Politics in the UK, and elsewhere, now is at a dangerous crossroads. It is the responsibility of us all in public life to make an argument for progressive change that brings prosperity, hope and our communities together, rather than furthering division and despair.

“And after almost two decades of SNP failure, Scotland desperately needs a new direction at Holyrood and I will continue doing all I can to help make my friend Anas Sarwar our next First Minister.

“The past year has also brought the arrival of my second daughter. Being an MP, particularly a member of the Cabinet, puts an immeasurable strain on family life – something I dearly hope parliament and politics finds a way to resolve.

“I am hugely disappointed to be leaving government, with so much done and so much more to do, but I now look forward to spending a little more time with my wife and two beautiful girls, while continuing to serve the wonderful people of Edinburgh South. A huge thank you to my junior minister Kirsty McNeill, my PPS Melanie Ward, and the fantastic team of dedicated civil servants at the Scotland Office, they are the best of the best. And a big thank you to everyone we have met, worked with and engaged with over the last year.

“I wish my former Cabinet colleagues, and those now joining, well. Every single one of them are in politics for the right reasons and are good people who I am certain will do great things for our country.

“Lastly, I will forever be proud of having helped deliver 37 Scottish Labour MPs last year. I have always felt a responsibility, having been the sole Scottish Labour MP for so long, to bring on and nurture the next generation of elected politicians and staff. I hope that has left a legacy that will thrive in years to come.”

Reshuffle continues

Lucy Powell has also been sacked as leader of the Commons as part of the reshuffle.

She said in a statement: “I spoke to the Prime Minister earlier today, and he informed me of his intention to appoint a new Leader of the House of Commons.

“It has been an honour to serve in the first Labour Government in 15 years, particularly as Leader of the House. It’s been a role I’ve really enjoyed – overseeing the first Labour King’s Speech in a generation with such an ambitious and transformative legislative programme, taking on vested interests in the service of ordinary people.”

David Lammy has now been announced as the new deputy prime minister and has shifted to the justice brief, taking on the role from Shabana Mahmood.

Mahmood has now been made home secretary, taking on the role from Yvette Cooper, who becomes foreign secretary.

Pat McFadden, a senior minister within the Cabinet Office, is taking over a new “super ministry” comprised of the Department for Work and Pensions and the skills remit of the Department for Education, according to PA sources.

Steve Reed has taken over Ms Rayner’s brief as Housing Secretary, leaving behind his role as environment secretary, it is understood.