SCOTLAND'S only Tory MP has been appointed as Scottish Secretary during David Cameron's cabinet reshuffle.

 

As the Prime Minster concluded his post-election overhaul, David Mundell was confirmed as having been given the promotion yesterday.

The Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP has held his Westminster post since 2005 and previously served as the Scotland Office minister during the former coalition government.

Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservatives Leader, welcomed the appointment and said Mr Mundell was "quite simply the right man for the job."

She added: "I am absolutely delighted at the decision by the Prime Minister to promote him.

"At a momentous time in our politics we need calm and experienced leadership, and that is exactly what David will bring to this post.

"He will ensure that Scotland's two governments work well with each other and always in a spirit of mutual respect and co-operation.

"David has been a brilliant MSP and MP for his constituents over the last 16 years and he will now take that same dedication and tireless advocacy to the cabinet table."

Previously Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael held the role with Mr Mundell acting as a junior minister in the Scotland Office.

David Cameron also handed Boris Johnston a role in the political cabinet, but left him without a ministerial job while he remains London's mayor.

Communities and Local Government secretary Eric Pickles was given the axe and replaced by universities minister Greg Clark.

Former Culture secretary Sajid Javed was appointed Business spokesman, while Iain Duncan Smith and Justine Greening kept their jobs as Work and Pensions secretary and international development Secretary.

Veteran Tory MP John Whittingdale was made the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, while Hastings and Rye MP Amber Rudd entered Cabinet for the first time as Energy and Climate Change Secretary.

Ms Rudd is one of a number of additional women attending Cabinet, though only she and Leader of the Lords Baroness Stowell took on full membership status.

The Prime Minster confirmed that George Osborne, Theresa May, Philip Hammond and Michael Fallon would remain in their posts of Chancellor, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary following the Tories election victory last week.