NEW Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has appointed a new shadow secretary of state for Scotland.
MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Andrew Bowie will take up the portfolio alongside energy and net zero.
It comes after John Lamont, who became the Conservatives’ shadow secretary of state for Scotland after Alister Jack resigned as an MP, said he was "disappointed not to be continuing" in the role he "loved".
He added: "I wish my successor well. I will continue to work from the backbenches standing up for the Scottish Borders, and to hold both the Labour and SNP governments to account."
Bowie was first brought into the UK government by Sunak after Liz Truss's brief time in office. He served as minister for exports in the International Trade Department before switching to the energy role.
He then served as the minister for nuclear and networks, but had responsibility over networks taken from him after campaigning in the area.
He is also a former vice-chair of the Tory Party, and served as a parliamentary private secretary to prime minister Theresa May.
Bowie was a nuclear minister in Rishi Sunak’s government, but he is now the Conservatives’ shadow veterans’ minister.
During the leadership contest, Bowie defended Badenoch after she suggested maternity pay was “excessive”.
Badenoch was blasted over her comments in a radio interview.
The Tory leader held her first shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday after filling her new senior team. Three former leadership rivals also take up positions in a bid to unite the opposition front.
Robert Jenrick has accepted a role as shadow justice secretary while Priti Patel will serve as shadow foreign secretary and Mel Stride as shadow chancellor.
All three ran as candidates against Badenoch in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak.
Badenoch said: “I am delighted to have appointed my shadow cabinet, which draws on the talents of people from across the Conservative Party, based on meritocracy and with a breadth of experience and perspective, just as I promised during the campaign.
“Our party’s problems will only be solved with a team effort, and I am confident my shadow cabinet ministers will deliver effective opposition as we seek to win back the trust of the public.
“We will now get to work holding Labour to account and rebuilding our party based on Conservative principles and values.
“The process of renewing our great party has now begun.”
