The Right Honourable  Douglas Alexander MP
Secretary of State for International Development
Incumbent
Assumed office  28 June 2007
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Hilary Benn
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 06 May 2006 – 27 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Alistair Darling
Succeeded by	Des Browne
Secretary of State for Transport
In office 06 May 2006 – 27 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Alistair Darling
Succeeded by	Ruth Kelly
Minister of State for Europe
In office 05 May 2005 – 06 May 2006
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Denis MacShane
Succeeded by	Geoff Hoon
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 13 June 2003 – 08 September 2004
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Gus Macdonald
Succeeded by	Alan Milburn
Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South Paisley South (1997 – 2005)
Incumbent
Assumed office  06 November 1997
Preceded by	Gordon James McMaster
Majority	13,232 (34.9%)
Born	26 October 1967 (1967-10-26) (age 40) Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	University of Edinburgh
Religion	Church of Scotland
Website	DouglasAlexander.labour.co.uk

Douglas Garven Alexander (born October 26, 1967) is a Scottish politician who is Secretary of State for International Development. He is the Member of Parliament for the Scottish constituency of Paisley and Renfrewshire South representing the Labour Party. On 24 June 2007 Gordon Brown announced he would be appointed as his General Election coordinator.^[1] The Right Honourable (abbreviated as or ) is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and in other Commonwealth Realms, and elsewhere. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... If you hold the copyright to an image (e. ... In the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State for International Development is a Cabinet minister responsible for promoting development overseas, particularly in the third world. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... Hilary James Wedgwood Benn (November 26, 1953) is a British politician, a current member of the British cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development and Labour Member of Parliament for the West Yorkshire constituency of Leeds Central. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Alistair Maclean Darling (born November 28, 1953) is a British politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer since June 28, 2007. ... The Rt. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Alistair Maclean Darling (born November 28, 1953) is a British politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer since June 28, 2007. ... Ruth Maria Kelly (born 9 May 1968) is a British politician. ... The position of Minister of State for Europe, in charge of affairs with the European Union, is a cabinet-level minister of the United Kingdom government under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Denis MacShane (born May 21, 1948, Glasgow) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Geoffrey William Hoon (born December 6, 1953) is a British politician. ... The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a sinecure office in the British government. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Angus John Gus Macdonald, Baron Macdonald of Tradeston, CBE, PC (born August 20, 1940), is a British Labour politician. ... Alan Milburn (born 27 January 1958, Tow Law, County Durham) is a British politician. ... Paisley and Renfrewshire South is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Paisley was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1983, when it was divided into Paisley North and Paisley South. ... Open seat redirects here. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Gordon McMaster (13 February 1960 - 28 July 1997) was a British politician. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Alma mater (disambiguation). ... The University of Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: ), founded in 1582,[4] is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... The Church of Scotland (CofS; Scottish Gaelic: ), known informally by its pre-Union Scots name, The Kirk, is the national church of Scotland. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the country. ... In the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State for International Development is a Cabinet minister responsible for promoting development overseas, particularly in the third world. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... This article is about the country. ... Paisley and Renfrewshire South is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the Scottish Labour Party founded in 1976. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Early life

Born in Glasgow, the son of a Church of Scotland minister, Douglas N. Alexander and a doctor, much of Alexander's childhood was spent in Bishopton in Renfrewshire. A prominent member of the 1st Bishopton Company of the Boys Brigade, he played bugle in the Company's marching band helping them win the Scottish BB Marching Band Championship in 1981. Alexander attended Park Mains High School in Erskine, also in Renfrewshire, from where he joined the Labour Party as a school boy in 1982. In 1984 he won a Scottish scholarship to attend the highly prestigious Lester B. Pearson College in Canada, where he gained the International Baccalaureate Diploma, returning to Scotland to study politics and modern history at the University of Edinburgh. He won a further scholarship in 1988 to study at the University Of Pennsylvania, one of the major American Ivy League institutions. Whilst studying in America, he worked for Michael Dukakis during the 1988 American Presidential Election campaign, he also worked for a Democratic senator in Washington, D.C.. For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... The Church of Scotland (CofS; Scottish Gaelic: ), known informally by its pre-Union Scots name, The Kirk, is the national church of Scotland. ... Bishopton (Baile an Easbaig in Scottish Gaelic) is a small town in Renfrewshire, Scotland, a few miles west of Erskine. ... Renfrewshire (Siorrachd Rinn Friù in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary authority regions in Scotland. ... The Boys Brigade is a non-denominational Christian youth organization in the New Zealand, Australia and several other countries. ... For other uses, see Erskine (disambiguation). ... Renfrewshire (Siorrachd Rinn Friù in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary authority regions in Scotland. ... This article is about the country. ... The Lester B. Pearson United World College logo Aerial View of Lester B. Pearson College Lester B. Pearson College, United World College of the Pacific is one of the ten elite United World Colleges around the world. ... The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is an educational programme examined in one of three languages (English, French or Spanish) and is a leading university entrance course. ... The University of Edinburgh (Scottish Gaelic: ), founded in 1582,[4] is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... This article is about the private Ivy League university in Philadelphia. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... For other uses, see Ivy League (disambiguation). ... Michael Stanley Dukakis (born November 3, 1933) is an American Democratic politician, former Governor of Massachusetts, and the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. ... The election was held on November 8, 1988. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ...

In 1990 he worked as a speech-writer and parliamentary researcher for Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Gordon Brown. He returned to Edinburgh to study for an LL.B. at Edinburgh University, where he won the Novice Moot Trophy and graduated with Distinction in 1993. He then qualified as a solicitor. On qualifying as a solicitor he worked for a firm of solicitors in Edinburgh. “Houses of Parliament” redirects here. ... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Shadow Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose... The Department of Trade and Industry is a United Kingdom government department. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... A solicitor is a type of lawyer in many common law jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and in a few regions of the United States. ...

Member of Parliament

Whilst still studying, in 1995, with friends in the local party, he was selected to be the Scottish Labour Party candidate at the Perth and Kinross by-election caused by the death of the long serving flamboyant Conservative MP Nicholas Fairbairn. The by-election came in the middle of the Major government and was won by Roseanna Cunningham of the Scottish National Party, but Alexander did well and received enough votes to push the Conservative candidate into third place. This brought him to the attention of Tony Blair - and hotfoot from his defeat by the SNP he was welcomed at the Scottish Labour Party Conference in the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness where he spoke immediately before Blair in the critical debate on abolition of Clause 4.4 of the Party Constitution. This article is about the Scottish Labour Party founded in 1976. ... A by-election was called on the 25 May 1995 for the United Kingdom constituency of Perth and Kinross, in Scotland, following the death of Conservative and Unionist MP Sir Nicholas Fairbairn. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Sir Nicholas Hardwick Fairbairn Kt, QC, (December 24, 1933 – February 19, 1995) was a British Politician. ... For other persons named John Major, see John Major (disambiguation). ... Roseanna Cunningham Roseanna Cunningham is an Australian-born (July 27, 1951) British politician, and member for the Scottish National Party for Perth in the Scottish Parliament. ... The Scottish National Party (SNP) (Scottish Gaelic: is a centre-left, Social democratic political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ...

The Perth and Kinross constituency was abolished, but Alexander was again chosen to be the Labour candidate in the newly drawn Perth at the 1997 General Election. He was pushed into third place by the Conservatives. The UK general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997. ...

On 28th July, 1997 the Labour Member of Parliament for Paisley South, Gordon McMaster, committed suicide. Alexander, who grew up in Renfrewshire, was chosen to contest the by-election and he was duly elected to serve as the Member of Parliament for Paisley South on November 6, 1997. Paisley was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1983, when it was divided into Paisley North and Paisley South. ... Gordon McMaster (13 February 1960 - 28 July 1997) was a British politician. ... Renfrewshire (Siorrachd Rinn Friù in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary authority regions in Scotland. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

In government

Alexander took a successful co-ordinating role in his party's campaign for the 2001 General Election. He was rewarded by Tony Blair and was appointed as the Minister of State with responsibility for "e-commerce and competitiveness" and the Department for Trade and Industry in June 2001. Tony Blair William Hague Charles Kennedy The UK general election, 2001 was held on 7 June 2001 and was dubbed the quiet landslide by the media. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Minister of State is a title borne by officials in certain countries governed under the parliamentary system. ... The Department of Trade and Industry is a United Kingdom government department. ...

In May 2002, Alexander was transferred to the Cabinet Office as Minister of State in the Cabinet Office. Also see: 2002 (number). ... The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet in progressing matters that require coordination across Government departments. ... Minister of State is a title borne by officials in certain countries governed under the parliamentary system. ... The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet in progressing matters that require coordination across Government departments. ...

Then, in June 2003, he was made Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Mr Alexander was appointed the Minister of State for Trade at both the Department for Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. After the 2005 General Election, he was given the role of Minister of State for Europe, part of the Foreign Office, with special provision to attend Cabinet. On June 7, 2005, he was made a Member of the Privy Council. On May 5, 2006 he was appointed Secretary of State for Transport and, simultaneously, Secretary of State for Scotland, replacing Alistair Darling, where he oversaw the running of the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Cabinet Office can be either: Cabinet Office in the United Kingdom, Cabinet Office in Japan. ... The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a sinecure office in the British government. ... The Minister of State for Trade is an executive position in the Government of the United Kingdom, in both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Trade and Industry Although only a junior Minister of State position, when Douglas Alexander became Minister of State for Trade in September... The Department of Trade and Industry is a United Kingdom government department. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ... The position of Minister of State for Europe, in charge of affairs with the European Union, is a cabinet-level minister of the United Kingdom government under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... Alistair Maclean Darling (born November 28, 1953) is a British politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer since June 28, 2007. ... The composition of the Scottish Parliament following the 2007 election. ...

Following Gordon Brown's appointment as Prime Minister on 27th June 2007, he appointed Douglas Alexander as Secretary of State for International Development. For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... In the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State for International Development is a Cabinet minister responsible for promoting development overseas, particularly in the third world. ...

Personal life

His sister, Wendy Alexander, is also involved in politics, as an MSP and leader of the Scottish Labour Party in the Scottish Parliament. His father, a Church of Scotland minister, conducted the funeral of the inaugural First Minister of Scotland, Donald Dewar at Glasgow Cathedral in 2000. He is married to Jacqueline Christian and they have two children. Wendy Alexander (born 27 June 1963, Glasgow) is a Scottish politician and the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Paisley North. ... Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) (Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba (BPA) in Gaelic) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament. ... The Church of Scotland (CofS; Scottish Gaelic: ), known informally by its pre-Union Scots name, The Kirk, is the national church of Scotland. ... The First Minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ; Scots: ) is, in practice, the political leader of Scotland, as head of Scotlands national devolved government, the Scottish Executive, which was established in 1999 along with the Scottish Parliament. ... For the Canadian politician, see Donald Dewar (Canadian politician). ... Glasgow Cathedral Glasgow Cathedral is a Church of Scotland cathedral in Glasgow. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

See also

• Cabinet of the United Kingdom

This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

References

Bibliography

• Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006)

External links

• Douglas Alexander MP official site
• Foreign Office - Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP official profile
• Department of Trade and Industry - Douglas Alexander
• Guardian Unlimited Politics Ask Aristotle - Douglas Alexander MP
• They Work For You - Douglas Alexander MP
• "Steering safely down the middle", interview in The Sunday Times Scotland, 24 September, 2006

v • d • e Brown Cabinet Alexander · Ashton · Balls · Benn · Blears · Brown · Browne · Burnham · Cooper · Darling · Denham · Harman · Hoon · Hutton · Johnson · Kelly · D. Miliband · E. Miliband · Murphy · Purnell · J. Smith · Straw · Woodward In attendance: Austin · Flint · Hughes · Jowell · Malloch-Brown · Royall · Scotland · A. Smith

v • d • e Secretary of State for International Development of the United Kingdom Minister of Overseas Development Barbara Castle · Anthony Greenwood · Arthur Bottomley · Reginald Prentice · Judith Hart · Richard Wood* · Judith Hart* · Reginald Prentice* · Frank Judd* · Judith Hart* · Neil Marten* · Tim Raison* · Chris Patten* · Lynda Chalker* Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short · Valerie Amos, Baroness Amos · Hilary Benn · Douglas Alexander * held office whilst it was combined with Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.