Andy Burnham appoints eight Scottish MPs to enhanced PPS roles

Andy Burnham has appointed eight Scottish MPs to PPS roles as he continues to set up his government.

The prime minister has given 16 Scottish MPs government jobs.

Alan Gemmell will join the Cabinet Office as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS), while Alison Taylor and Frank McNally will join the Scotland Office under Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Melanie Ward.

PPS roles have also been given to John Grady, Pamela Nash, Chris Murray, Gordon McKee, and Elaine Stewart.

In a letter today, the government’s chief whip, Anneliese Midgely, confirmed that a review into the PPS role had been undertaken by her and the PM, to “strengthen and elevate the role” so that it “better reflects the way we want government to operate”.

She said: “The reforms are part of the wider culture change we are determined to embed across the government.

“They will include greater opportunities to undertake media and parliamentary activity, including on national policy, with the agreement of departmental media advisers, Number 10 and in line with government policy.

“Sir Nic [Dakin, the prime minister’s senior PPS] and the Whips Office will host a discussion on the updated role and expectations of Parliamentary Private Secretaries.”

Last week, Burnham’s government also announced that Douglas Alexander would remain as Secretary of State for Scotland.

Ian Murray, Kirsty McNeill, Michael Shanks, and Anas Sarwar – who will be inducted into the House of Lords – were among those appointed to ministerial roles.

Former junior health minister Zubir Ahmed, who served in Keir Starmer’s government, was not appointed to a role.

Full list of Scottish appointments

Cabinet

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland

Ministers

Ian Murray, Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Kirsty McNeill, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Michael Shanks, Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Anas Sarwar, Minister of State for Trade

Blair McDougall, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)  

Martin McClusky, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)  

Melaine Ward, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

Parliamentary Private Secretaries

Pamela Nash, Northern Ireland Office

Alan Gemmell, Cabinet Office

John Grady, HM Treasury

Chris Murray, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Gordon McKee, Ministry of Defence

Elaine Stewart, Department for Work and Pensions

Frank McNally, Scotland Office

Alison Taylor, Scotland Office

Whips

Gregor Poynton, Government Whip