Following the resignation of Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister, the next shock sacking was that of Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray MP.
Mr Murray has been MP for Edinburgh South since 2010 and after a long time waiting in the wings as a member of the Shadow Cabinet, took up his position in July 2024.
He has been replaced by Douglas Alexander MP for Lothian East.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “I want thank my friend Ian Murray for his service as Secretary of State for Scotland.
“Ian held our party together during the most difficult and dark times.
“I want to congratulate Douglas Alexander on his appointment as the new Secretary of State for Scotland.
“I know Douglas will use his experience, knowledge and skills to demonstrate that a UK Labour government is delivering for Scotland.
“I look forward to campaigning with Ian and Douglas to end the managed decline of Scotland under the SNP and chart a new direction for Scotland.”
Speaking after his appointment, Secretary of State for Scotland Rt. Hon Douglas Alexander MP said: “First, I want to pay tribute to my friend and colleague Ian Murray.
“Ian held the line against the SNP when no one else could and quite literally gave the Labour Party in Scotland a voice when it needed it most.
“As one of the most decent and well-liked people in politics, Ian has always managed to keep his warmth and wit through good and bad times alike. I, like so many others, have benefitted from the calm and common sense he brought to our team in every circumstance.
“Scotland and the Labour movement owe him a great debt of gratitude.
“As I take on this role, I do so with determination to deliver on the ambitions of people across Scotland.
“Delivering for them will always be my first priority.
“A UK Labour government has already shown what change looks like: ending Tory austerity, giving 200,000 of Scotland’s lowest-paid workers a pay rise, championing Scotland’s business with world beating trade deals and delivering the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution.
“But the SNP continue to squander that investment – and we must end two decades of SNP incompetence next year.
“So I look forward to working with Anas Sarwar to earn the trust of the people of Scotland and electing a Scottish Labour government that delivers the new direction Scotland needs.”
