19 September 2008
Scottish Labour's new leader, Iain Gray, announced his shadow Cabinet this week amid increasing turmoil in the party.
The former finance spokesman replaces Wendy Alexander, who resigned following her failure to declare party donations on time.
Gray, MSP for East Lothian and a former adviser to UK Chancellor Alistair Darling, is thought to have been the favoured candidate of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The September 16 announcement was overshadowed by the resignation of David Cairns, Scotland Office minister and the most senior party member to back a challenge to Brown.
Gray's team includes his rivals in the contest for the Scottish Labour leadership: Andy Kerr, who has been appointed shadow finance minister, and Cathy Jamieson, who will be responsible for health.
Former communities minister Margaret Curran, who lost the recent Glasgow East by-election to the Scottish National Party, is to head a review of the party's manifesto.
Gray said his review would include 'defining exactly how we should reform the council tax to make it fairer while protecting local services'.
PFsep2008
