DOUGLAS Alexander has been mocked for sending an "embarrassing" letter to every MSP pledging to show "respect" for devolution.
In a letter sent on Friday, the Scottish Secretary told MSPs that he was "fully committed to being Scotland's voice at the UK Government's Cabinet table" and that he will "deliver for Scotland" at Westminster.
This comes despite the UK Government's refusal to engage in discussions around a second independence referendum, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham blocking talks at his first meeting with First Minister John Swinney.
Alexander admitted that the UK and Scottish Governments "won't agree on everything", but that the UK Government's approach was to show a "respect for devolution and a commitment to constructive joint working".
The Scottish Secretary wrote: "As Parliament returns this week, I wanted to be in touch with every member of the Scottish Parliament to reaffirm the UK Government's commitment to building a stronger Scotland within a reformed UK.
"I am fully committed to being Scotland's voice at the UK Government's Cabinet table, and to working in close alignment with the Prime Minister and parliamentary colleagues to deliver for Scotland within the UK."
Alexander said that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has "been clear that rebuilding the country requires UK-wide delivery and effective working with all levels of government".
Yet Burnham has visited Scotland just twice since becoming Prime Minister, and was previously branded the "first Prime Minister of England" after he completely avoided Scotland while undertaking a so-called "listening tour" of the UK.
So far, the Prime Minister has met with the King more times in Scotland than he has met with any Scottish voters.
The Scottish Secretary went on: "We won't agree on everything – the devolution framework is designed to accommodate different political parties and administrations across the country – but this UK Government is committed to working in partnership with each of the newly formed devolved governments.
"Respect for devolution and a commitment to constructive joint working are central to our approach to rewiring the state and ensuring good growth in every postcode."
He added that he looks forward to "continuing to work with you to deliver for communities across Scotland".
The SNP have hit back, branding the letter as "embarrassing" and saying it exposes the Scotland Office as "utterly redundant" and nothing more than a "professional letter writing bureau".
Lloyd Melville, MSP for Angus South, told The National: “Douglas Alexander spends his days cosplaying as Scotland’s man in London, when time and time again he is exposed as a bystander as Westminster destroys Scottish industry.
“Rather pontificating from his sofa in Whitehall he should join SNP calls to cut the tax on Scotland’s whisky, end the crippling tax on Scotland’s energy and engage with the basic premise that the Scottish people should know the route to leaving the Westminster system behind.”
The Scotland Office has been approached for comment.
