Mundell's return joy

David O'Leary • Last updated 14 May 2010 12:24 0 Comments

CONSERVATIVE MP David Mundell has stated his delight to have won re-election despite being overlooked as Secretary of State.

Mr Mundell was re-elected as parliamentary candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale last Friday morning at Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries with a majority of 4,194 votes.

Many had believed that in the event of a Conservative UK government, Mr Mundell would be assigned the role of Secretary of State for Scotland, after serving as the Tories' Shadow Secretary of State since 2005.

However despite Mundell being Scotland's solitary Scottish Conservative MP the role has passed to his now Lib Dem colleague Danny Alexander - a man who up until recently held the view that there should not be a Scottish Office at all.

But it is understood that the Lib Dems demanded the post, as they begin the task of explaining to their supporters and voters why they as the second biggest party in Scotland have jumped into bed with the Tories.

It also allows David Cameron to solve the prickly problem of his party's unpopularity north of the border by handing the whole issue over to his coalition partners.

Mr Mundell has however been awarded a position as a Privy Councillor.

He said: "I'm very pleased to be given the reponsibility of being a minister of state and a Privy Councillor.

"This coalition government is a joint responsibility between my own party and the Lib Dems. I'm realistic and understand that sacrifices have to made, that's politics.

"I'm extremely hopeful that during this government people in Scotland will begin to realise that the Conservative Party isn't what they think it to be."

Asked whether he felt that Scotland's Lib Dem MPs will receive a backlash from voters due to the coalition Mr Mundell said: "That is a matter for them but what they will have to get used to both locally and nationally is that they must now take responsibility for the difficult decisions they will be required to make."

Tweet

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 14 May 10

Post a comment

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @peeblesnews