First Minister John Swinney says relations with the UK government have “haemorrhaged” since Douglas Alexander became Secretary of State for Scotland. The comments came after Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed on Monday that Alexander would remain in post, with Alexander saying he was “very happy” to keep the job.
Swinney said he was concerned by Burnham’s decision and accused Alexander of “making life difficult” for Scotland. Alexander took up the role in September 2025 after the sacking of Scottish Labour’s longest serving MP, Ian Murray, in a UK government reshuffle.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, Swinney said the Scottish government had previously worked well with Murray but that the relationship deteriorated after Alexander’s arrival.
“We enjoyed a pretty constructive relationship when Keir Starmer appointed Ian Murray as Scottish Secretary.
“But I have to say that pretty much haemorrhaged with Douglas Alexander's arrival.
“The prime minister assured me yesterday that he is interested in a collaborative relationship.
“I take that at face value and I hope that is reflected in the approach that is taken by the Secretary of State for Scotland.”
He also said there had been “excellent cooperation” between the Scottish government and the Scotland Office when it was led by Murray. Swinney said Alexander’s arrival coincided with his appointment as joint director of the Scottish Labour Holyrood election campaign to get Swinney out of office, and that relations had then “soured significantly”.
The first minister said he had known Alexander for decades, since they were students at the University of Edinburgh.
“I bear nobody any personal ill will, I'm not interested in that,” Swinney said.
“I am interested in improving the lives of people in Scotland.
“If I have to battle past a Secretary of State for Scotland that is making life difficult, then it just makes it even more difficult for me.”
The Scotland Office has been approached for comment.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham spoke to the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on Tuesday.
Swinney also told BBC Radio Scotland that he disagrees with Andy Burnham’s views on regional mayors. Burnham has said one of his key priorities for Britain will be to hand more power to councils and authorities away from Westminster.
The former mayor of Greater Manchester has vowed to give mayors greater control over social housing, welfare and education. Swinney said he wants to strengthen local council powers in Scotland, but does not support “the concept of mayors”.
“I believe in the democratic tradition of electing local authorities and for those authorities to be accountable to the people that elect them,” he added.
Burnham stood down as an MP to be elected as the first mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017, when regional mayors were still an untested concept.
Democratic accountability
Swinney said the Scottish government supports councils, city region deals and greater local control over finances. He said local authorities in Scotland have worked with both the Scottish government and the UK government on collaborative programmes without undermining democratic accountability.
“A lot of good things have happened in Manchester but there are a lot of good things that have happened in the Glasgow City deal or the Tay City deal or South East of Scotland deal.
“These are where local authorities have worked together with the Scottish government and the UK government in a collaborative programme of delivering projects and nobody's democratic accountability has been undermined as a consequence.”
Burnham and Swinney spoke on the phone on Tuesday morning for the first time since the prime minister took office. A Scottish government spokesperson said Swinney also used the call to invite the prime minister to visit Scotland.
