Ian Murray joins Scottish Labour frontbench after quitting Jeremy Corbyn's team

Ian Murray has been appointed to Scottish Labour’s shadow cabinet just weeks after quitting the UK party’s frontbench at Westminster in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Kezia Dugdale named Murray, the party's only MP from Scotland, as Scottish Labour’s Westminster spokesman - a post that did not previously exist in her team.

Murray quit as Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary when he was as part of a mass walk-out of MPs resigning from Corbyn’s frontbench.

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However, in an unusual move, Dugdale has appointed Murray to her team, the other members of which are based at Holyrood.        

Dugdale said that, Murray the Edinburgh South MP, would strengthen her frontbench team.   

Commenting on the appointment, Dugdale, said: “I’m pleased to welcome Ian to my Shadow Cabinet.

“As Scotland’s only Labour MP, Ian has a crucial role to play in representing Scotland’s interests at Westminster and working to strengthen our party as he has done since he was re-elected last year.”

Murray confirmed that he had taken up the role in Dugdale’s Holyrood-based team.

He said: “I look forward to continuing to play my part in rebuilding the fortunes of the Scottish Labour Party.

“As we look towards the Local Government elections and the next UK General Election, we have to do all we can to strengthen our party, reach out to communities all across Scotland, and speak to the vast majority of working people who need a Labour Government in Scotland and across the UK.

“Following the EU referendum vote, we also need to stand up for those people."