Andy Kerr ready to make Sense of new role in life outside politics

FORMER Labour health minister Andy Kerr has landed a job running a leading charity for the disabled, just over two months after he lost his seat at Holyrood.

Mr Kerr, who famously introduced the smoking ban in public areas in Scotland, was seen as one of the most high-profile losers, when the party was routed in the SNP landslide of 5 May.

However, the man who once unsuccessfully stood for election as Scottish Labour leader has now been handed the chief executive's role of Sense Scotland.

The Glasgow-based job was advertised with a salary of up to 80,000, bigger than the sum of more than 53,000 Mr Kerr received annually as an MSP until he was unseated from the East Kilbride constituency by the SNP's Linda Fabiani.

Mr Kerr, who is also a former finance minister, told The Scotsman that he would use his experience of running large government departments to help support "vulnerable people" affected by cuts to front-line services in Scotland.

The former Labour leadership contender was one of a large number of scalps taken by the SNP in this year's elections. Other big names included the former Liberal Democrat rural affairs minister Ross Finnie and Labour's Bill Butler.

Meanwhile, Mr Kerr is understood to have ruled out a return to politics and says that he wants to "move on" from his 12 years as a Labour MSP.

Mr Kerr's reluctance to seek a return to Holyrood comes despite his work as an adviser for Central Scotland Labour MSP Margaret McCulloch, a job he is likely to continue with until taking over as the head of Sense Scotland on 1 September.

However, Mr Kerr said he would like to "offer advice" to Scottish Parliament committees looking at public services and the voluntary sector.

He said: "If I can offer advice and make sure that decisions are informed, then I'd hope to be back to advance the cause of some very deserving people.

"But I'm turning another page in my life with this new role. I had a great time in politics, but now it's time to move on.

"I've experience in business and public life, and I want to get inside the organisation and talk to the people I'll be working with and service users.

"It poses a challenge, and part of the role will be to run the organisation through difficult times and work to make sure vulnerable people are protected.

"This is one of the most challenging times for the voluntary sector and for the people who rely on its services and support. Sense Scotland is a successful and respected organisation and I'm really looking forward to leading it to more success in the future,"

A spokesman for the charity said that there had been a vigorous recruitment process before the job was handed to the former Labour minister.He said: "We were extremely impressed with his (Mr Kerr's] experience of running health and finance departments and dealing with big budgets."

The charity said it had received nearly 100 applications for the job from "all over the world". Roy Cox, chair of Sense Scotland, added: "I'm delighted that Andy is joining us as our new chief executive. He will be a great leader and ambassador for our organisation."