Shadow cabinet picked

Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Liz Smith has expressed her delight at being given a new role in the Shadow Cabinet at the Scottish Parliament.

Douglas Ross MP, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, announced his Shadow Cabinet last week.

Liz Smith is now the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform.

She said:“I’m looking forward to my new role. There are several very significant and challenging issues to be addressed in this portfolio – issues which have wide-ranging implications for future generations as well as for the present.”

Fellow Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Murdo Fraser, has been announced as the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance.

He said:“I am delighted to be back in the finance brief as part of Douglas Ross’s new frontbench team.

“With the country now officially in economic recession, the need to rebuild and create jobs is more vital than ever, and I look forward to leading the debate on how Conservative policies can deliver this.”

Alexander Stewart MSP was confirmed as the Scottish Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government and Planning.

Before becoming an MSP in 2016, Mr Stewart spent over 18 years at local government level as a Perth and Kinross councillor.

He said:“Meeting with our new party leader, Douglas Ross, I was thrilled to have been asked once again to resume the role of Shadow Minister for Local Government and Planning.

“With the responsibility of planning added to my portfolio, I relish the challenge, as this enables me to shadow the incumbent SNP minister Kevin Stewart on a like-for-like basis.

“Douglas also very kindly thanked me for my contribution as deputy chief whip.

“More than 18 years as a Perth and Kinross Councillor, prior to becoming an MSP, had enabled me to build up many contacts and a vast working knowledge of the entire local government environment.”