Swinney says UK Government security briefing cancelled over lack of ‘babysitter’ The First Minister said there was a ‘suggestion’ Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander would need to be at the briefing. Evening Standard · Mar 19
Alexander vows to honour memory of Dunblane victims by upholding gun controls The Scottish Secretary said the tragedy that unfolded 30 years ago ‘haunts many of us still to this day’. Evening Standard · Mar 13
UK ministers urge Scottish Government to match funding for defence colleges The defence readiness minister and Scottish Secretary announced a £50 million growth deal in Paisley on Thursday. Evening Standard · Mar 12
SNP would be ‘complacent’ to think Holyrood election is ‘in the bag’ – Alexander Scottish Labour campaign co-chairman Douglas Alexander accepted however his party are underdogs for the May election. Evening Standard · Feb 27
Scottish Secretary to travel abroad to strengthen defence ties and increase trade Douglas Alexander will fly to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore over the coming week The Independent UK · Feb 15
Labour is united behind Sarwar’s bid to be next first minister – Alexander The Scottish Secretary has sought to downplay divisions within the party after its Scottish leader called on the PM to quit. Evening Standard · Feb 12
No 10 confident Sarwar acted alone in call for Starmer to go Downing Street initially feared Scottish Labour leader’s move was part of a wider leadership challenge The Guardian - UK · Feb 10
Sir Keir Starmer still ‘determined’ Anas Sarwar should be Scotland’s next FM Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said while Mr Sarwar had called for the PM to quit, Sir Keir still wants to see him win May’s Holyrood election. Evening Standard · Feb 10
‘Dedication, decency and compassion’ of Lord Wallace hailed after sudden death The 71-year-old Liberal Democrat former Scottish deputy first minister died on Thursday after complications from surgery. Evening Standard · Jan 30
New team aims to help British small businesses win defence contracts The Defence Office for Small Business Growth has been launched. Evening Standard · Jan 27
Starmer defends Labour decision to bar Burnham from byelection Greater Manchester mayor’s participation in 26 February byelection would ‘divert resources’, says prime minister The Guardian - UK · Jan 26
Tories withdraw ‘mental health’ briefing about Suella Braverman after former Tory home secretary joins Reform – UK politics live Her defection means there are now eight Reform MPs in the Commons The Guardian - UK · Jan 26
Keir Starmer defends blocking Andy Burnham Commons comeback but Labour MP calls for him to quit The Prime Minister was facing a Labour revolt after party chiefs stopped Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from being able to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election Evening Standard · Jan 26
New radar system will keep Typhoon jets ‘ahead of adversaries’ – John Healey The Defence Secretary described the aircraft as the ‘backbone’ of UK and Nato air defence. Evening Standard · Jan 22
Evening Standard · Jan 22 Swinney attacks ‘juvenile’ Alexander amid spat over US military using airport The First Minister said the Scottish Secretary effectively told him ‘this whole issue was none of my business’.
Evening Standard · Jan 22 Swinney did not accept briefing on military use of airport, says Alexander Douglas Alexander made the claim on Thursday as he joined Defence Secretary John Healey.
Evening Standard · Jan 22 Government to announce £453m deal to fit Typhoon jets with ‘cutting-edge’ radar The contract with three UK defence firms will secure 300 skilled roles in Edinburgh and more than 200 elsewhere in the UK.
Evening Standard · Jan 20 John Swinney urged to ‘reach out’ to US president over tariff threat Concerns were raised in Holyrood over the impact a threatened hike in tariffs by the US president would have on Scotland’s crucial whisky sector.
Evening Standard · Jan 20 No guarantee Government approach to US tariffs will prevail – Douglas Alexander The UK could face a further 10% tariff rise from the US amid a row over the future of Greenland.
The Guardian - UK · Jan 8 ‘Shadow fleet’ ships moving sanctioned oil reflagged to Russia at rising rate Lloyd’s List analysis suggests 40 suspicious vessels joined Russian registry last year, with 17 reflagged last month
Evening Standard · Jan 8 UK was ‘absolutely willing’ to support US in seizing Russian tanker – minister Douglas Alexander said the ship seized in water between Iceland and Scotland was ‘part of the shadow fleet that funds Russia’s war effort in Ukraine’.
The Guardian - UK · Jan 2 China threatened to cancel key trade talks after UK minister’s Taiwan visit in June Exclusive: diplomats had to scramble to contain fallout with Beijing after Douglas Alexander’s trip to Taipei
Evening Standard · Dec 17, 2025 Alexander: Review could examine Iran’s influence on Scottish independence debate The independent review of foreign financial interference is being launched after a former MEP was jailed for taking Russian bribes.
Evening Standard · Dec 17, 2025 Minister ‘convinced’ of path to sustainability at Grangemouth plant Government funding of £120 million will be topped up by £30 million from the plant’s owners Ineos.
Evening Standard · Dec 17, 2025 Alexander highlights ‘stark contrast’ in talks on Grangemouth and Mossmorran The Scottish Secretary said Mossmorran bosses had, unlike Grangemouth management, been unable to demonstrate a ‘pathway to profitability’.