Douglas Alexander to stand as Labour candidate for East Lothian

A erstwhile curate successful Tony Blair's authorities is seeking to marque a comeback astatine Westminster astir a decennary aft losing his seat.

Douglas Alexander was successful some Mr Blair's furniture and that of his successor Gordon Brown.

But successful 2015 helium mislaid his Paisley and Renfrewshire South spot to the SNP's Mhairi Black.

Mr Alexander volition basal arsenic Labour's campaigner for East Lothian successful the adjacent wide election.

The spot is presently held by erstwhile Scottish justness caput Kenny MacAskill, who near the SNP to articulation Alex Salmond's Alba Party.

The East Lothian constituency volition beryllium 1 of Scottish Labour's apical targets erstwhile the adjacent Westminster predetermination is fought.

Announcing his enactment connected Twitter, Mr Alexander wrote: "He's running! Humbled and grateful to beryllium overwhelmingly selected contiguous by section enactment members arsenic Scottish Labour's campaigner for East Lothian.

"Change is coming to our state and I'm determined to play my portion by winning East Lothian backmost for Scottish Labour."

His candidacy comes much than 25 years aft helium was archetypal elected to the House of Commons, winning the then-safe Labour spot of Paisley South successful a by-election successful November 1997.

After his relation successful helping co-ordinate Labour's palmy predetermination run successful 2001 helium was made a inferior curate successful Mr Blair's government, serving successful assorted roles earlier being made some transport caput and Scottish caput successful 2006.

When Mr Brown became premier curate successful 2007, helium appointed Mr Alexander arsenic his planetary improvement secretary.

But astatine the 2015 wide predetermination the erstwhile shadiness overseas secretary, who had a 16,000-vote majority, was defeated by Ms Black.

The past 20-year-old, who was a pupil astatine the University of Glasgow, became the youngest MP elected since 1667.

In caller years, Mr Alexander has worked arsenic an advisor to U2 beforehand antheral Bono, who has campaigned connected issues including planetary poorness and the Aids situation successful Africa.

Last May helium accompanied the vocalist and his bandmate The Edge connected a sojourn to war-torn Ukraine.

Mr Alexander is besides presently a visiting prof astatine New York University and King's College London.