Labour name Dave Anderson as new shadow Scottish Secretary

The Labour MP for Blaydon, Dave Anderson, is to be the party's new shadow Scottish Secretary, it has been revealed.

Dave Anderson, right, has been named new shadow Scottish secretary. Picture: PA

Mr Anderson was also made shadow Northern Ireland Secretary last week.

The Scottish job has been vacant since Edinburgh MP Ian Murray resigned, calling on Jeremy Corbyn to stand down as leader.

Mr Anderson said he would seek a meeting with Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale “as soon as possible”.

He tweeted: “Happy to take up this post at such a crucial time and work with colleagues old and new north of the border.”

The north-east of England parliamentarian currently sits on the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster.

Jeremy Corbyn lost 12 members of his shadow cabinet last Sunday and has made a series of appointments in an effort to shore up his position as party leader.

Announcing his decision to step down Ian Murray said: “I think Jeremy Corbyn has to look at himself seriously in the mirror and see if he sees himself walking down Downing Street as being prime minister, whether or not there’s a general election in six months, or in May 2020.

“I think he’s going to find it very difficult to answer yes to those questions regrettably.”

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