Corbyn names an English MP for Scots shadow job
EMBATTLED Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has finally filled his vacant Scottish frontbench role – with an English MP.
Dave Anderson, MP for Blaydon in County Durham, had already taken on the Northern Ireland brief and will now cover Scotland as well.
Labour’s only Scottish MP, Ian Murray, resigned from the job on Monday.
Yesterday Mr Anderson said he would seek a meeting with Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale ‘as soon as possible’.
He will face Scottish Secretary David Mundell, whose constituency is Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, in Scottish Questions next week in the Commons.
Mr Mundell said: ‘I feel sorry for David, he is a really decent guy. I know he has come to Scotland with his caravan so he does have some knowledge.
‘But I have to acknowledge a wry smile, when I think back to the arrogance of Labour MPs, when there were 40 of them, who were quick to make fun of any English Conservative who dared to speak on any Scottish matters.
‘I don’t think they will be laughing now, it’s just a shambles.’
Mr Murray, who represents Edinburgh South, is only one of many Shadow Cabinet members to walk out in a desperate coup, which has so far proved unsuccessful. Mr Corbyn has also suffered a hugely embarrassing vote of no confidence, but clung on to leadership.
As well as splitting the UK party it has sparked a damaging rift in the Scottish party, with Miss Dugdale and her deputy Alex Rowley on different sides of the argument.
Meanwhile, Miss Dugdale was in London yesterday holding talks with Mayor Sajid Khan about the consequences of Brexit.
Like Scotland, London last week voted to stay in the EU but will be pulled out on the strength of the overall UK result.
Miss Dugdale said: ‘For the future of our economies and for the jobs of people living in London and Scotland, it is essential that we do all we can to protect our relationship with the European Union.’