By David Scott
19 May 2010
New Scottish Secretary Danny Alexander denied claims that his party has done a U-turn and abandoned its opposition to the office.
The Liberal Democrat MP, whose party made a pre-election call for the abolition of the Scotland Office, described his post as ‘significant’ and stressed that it was needed to maintain the spirit of co-operation between Scottish and UK ministers.
The Scottish LibDems had previously said that abolishing the post was a ‘job waiting to be done’.
Former Labour Scotland Office minister David Cairns said Alexander’s views and principles had suddenly changed.
He added: ‘In the space of five days, he has gone from chief critic of the Tories to David Cameron’s spokesman in Scotland, occupying office in a ministry he wanted to abolish.’
Stewart Hosie, campaign co-ordinator for the SNP’s election campaign, said: ‘Danny Alexander will have to show great dexterity in a post he wants to see abolished.’
The new Scottish Secretary’s role has also been questioned on the basis that Alexander will have other time-consuming responsibilities in supporting deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.
Alan Trench, a leading devolution commentator, told Public Finance: ‘It looks to me as if the post will be part-time, in contrast to the position in Wales and Northern Ireland, as Danny Alexander will also have a significant role as political adviser to Nick Clegg.’
However, he believed Alexander could be an influential player in the government ‘as clearly he will have Nick Clegg’s ear’.
Trench, a research fellow at Edinburgh University’s school of social and political studies, said it made a lot of sense for the Lib Dems to take on the office as the party had 11 seats in Scotland compared with the Tories’ one.
Alexander, who accompanied David Cameron during the prime minister’s visit to the Scottish Parliament on May 14, said the new government would deliver benefits to Scotland. He added: ‘I am Scotland’s man at the very heart of government.’
He pledged to press ahead as ‘quickly as possible’ with the Calman proposals on more tax-raising powers for Holyrood.
19 May 2010
New Scottish Secretary Danny Alexander denied claims that his party has done a U-turn and abandoned its opposition to the office.
The Liberal Democrat MP, whose party made a pre-election call for the abolition of the Scotland Office, described his post as ‘significant’ and stressed that it was needed to maintain the spirit of co-operation between Scottish and UK ministers.
The Scottish LibDems had previously said that abolishing the post was a ‘job waiting to be done’.
Former Labour Scotland Office minister David Cairns said Alexander’s views and principles had suddenly changed.
He added: ‘In the space of five days, he has gone from chief critic of the Tories to David Cameron’s spokesman in Scotland, occupying office in a ministry he wanted to abolish.’
Stewart Hosie, campaign co-ordinator for the SNP’s election campaign, said: ‘Danny Alexander will have to show great dexterity in a post he wants to see abolished.’
The new Scottish Secretary’s role has also been questioned on the basis that Alexander will have other time-consuming responsibilities in supporting deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.
Alan Trench, a leading devolution commentator, told Public Finance: ‘It looks to me as if the post will be part-time, in contrast to the position in Wales and Northern Ireland, as Danny Alexander will also have a significant role as political adviser to Nick Clegg.’
However, he believed Alexander could be an influential player in the government ‘as clearly he will have Nick Clegg’s ear’.
Trench, a research fellow at Edinburgh University’s school of social and political studies, said it made a lot of sense for the Lib Dems to take on the office as the party had 11 seats in Scotland compared with the Tories’ one.
Alexander, who accompanied David Cameron during the prime minister’s visit to the Scottish Parliament on May 14, said the new government would deliver benefits to Scotland. He added: ‘I am Scotland’s man at the very heart of government.’
He pledged to press ahead as ‘quickly as possible’ with the Calman proposals on more tax-raising powers for Holyrood.
