Get shuffling

Fewer things demonstrated more the hiatus in politics north of the Border in the last Westminster parliament than the fact that the Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland was the then Blaydon MP Dave Anderson. A north east of England MP faced the sole Conservative MP, David Mundell, across the dispatch box in parliamentary bouts at Scottish Questions. The 2017 election has at least provided a bit more balance to the make-up

of our representatives. It provides Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with a bit of a dilemma, too, about who he should appoint to his shadow cabinet. He faces the age-old conflict about whether to be honest or loyal. But the public will be watching his decisions closely to see if he is serious about providing an alternative government.

Whatever differences he may have had with Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray in the last two years (as usual, there were faults on both sides), Mr Corbyn should have no hesitation in appointing him to the Shadow Secretary for Scotland post. It would reassure many doubting voters that Labour was prepared to campaign on as wide a front as possible.

There can be little doubt, too that replacing Diane Abbott with Yvette Cooper as Shadow Home Secretary would be seen as a mature act of statesmanship by the reinvigorated Labour leader. Although Ms Abbott was returned with an enormous majority in her Hackney constituency, her campaign performance on the national stage was woeful. Had it been a bit more effective Labour might have come even closer to the Conservatives in terms of the number of seats won, or even been in a stronger position to form a minority government.

Mr Corbyn has shown political acumen during the election campaign. He now needs to show judgment and steel, not misplaced loyalty, in making shadow cabinet appointments.