CONSERVATIVE MSP Stephen Kerr has won a major promotion as party leader Douglas Ross carries out a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet.
Kerr, who has been a controversial figure since his election to Holyrood last year, will become shadow education secretary following the resignation of Oliver Mundell.
Alexander Burnett – who is reportedly one of the richest politicians in Holyrood – will take on the chief whip role which Kerr is vacating.
Kerr’s new position will mean more media time, and a brief to carry out.
Ross's party has been rocked by a number of changes in recent weeks, including the resignation of Dean Lockhart from the Parliament and several departures in the behind-the-scenes team.
However, the Scottish Tory chief struck an optimistic tone as he announced the new positions for the pair.
“I am delighted to appoint Stephen and Alexander to these new positions," he said.
“I was naturally disappointed when Oliver stepped down from the shadow cabinet but I know Stephen has the experience and drive to hit the ground running as the party’s new shadow education secretary and build on Oliver’s fine work.
“As a former convener of the Parliament’s Education Committee, he has already shown he is more than capable of holding the SNP to account over their failures within Scotland’s education system.
“Alexander has already provided superb support to our whips office and I know he will be a strong chief whip as he makes the step up from deputy.”
Kerr said he is "extremely pleased" to build on Mundell's work in the role.
“During their 15 years in charge the SNP have repeatedly let down pupils, parents and teachers, despite Nicola Sturgeon’s insistence that education was her top priority," he said.
“I will ensure that they answer for the decline in Scotland’s global reputation in education and their failure to close the attainment gap.”
What is Stephen Kerr known for?
Kerr has made a name for himself both in the Holyrood Chamber and on social media with his antics.
Regular FMQs viewers will not his regular banging on the parliamentary desks as he expresses outrage over the First Minister’s answers, or support for his party leader.
The Central Scotland MSP has been left red-faced online on and off on number of occasions, from a standing order gaffe back in May to being shot down by food campaigner Jack Monroe over the summer.
Just this month Kerr was accused of spreading disinformation over claims that Scotland wouldn’t be able to rejoin the EU as an independent country.
And just a few weeks after his election, Kerr found himself rapped by Holyrood authorities for removing the Gaelic from the Scottish Parliament logo on a letter to the UK Government.
Despite the incident, Kerr was appointed convener of the Parliament’s Education Committee – where he is charged with holding the Government to account on its policies for children and young people.
The SNP are hoping to expand Gaelic-medium education and is currently consulting on its upcoming Gaelic and Scots and Scottish Languages Bill.
