About your Member of Parliament

Your MP (Douglas Alexander) represents you, and all of the people who live in Lothian East, at the UK Parliament in Westminster.

MPs split their time between Parliament and their constituency. In Parliament, they debate and vote on new laws, review existing laws, and question the Government. In the constituency, their focus is on supporting local people and championing local issues. They have a small staff team who help with casework, maintain their diaries, and monitor their inbox.

What you can do

• Find out more about your MP, including their voting summary, register of interests and recent speeches.
• Write to your MP, or find out about your other local representatives on WriteToThem.com.
• Find out more about Lothian East on the Local Intelligence Hub.

Profile

Labour/Co-operative MP for Lothian East

Entered the House of Commons on 6 November 1997 — Byelection

Party was Labour until 30 Mar 2015

Also represented Paisley and Renfrewshire South; Paisley South

• Personal website
• Wikipedia page
• BBC News profile

Social Media

• UK Parliament Profile

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009
• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

• Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
• Work and Pensions
• International Development
• Treasury
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Syria
• Afghanistan
• Libya: Armed Conflict
• European Union
• Iran

Currently held offices

• Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (since 10 Feb 2025)
• Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (since 6 Jul 2024)

Other offices held in the past

• Shadow Foreign Secretary (20 Jan 2011 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions ( 8 Oct 2010 to 20 Jan 2011)
• Shadow Secretary of State for International Development (12 May 2010 to 8 Oct 2010)
• The Secretary of State for International Development (28 Jun 2007 to 6 May 2010)
• The Secretary of State for Scotland ( 5 May 2006 to 28 Jun 2007)
• The Secretary of State for Transport ( 5 May 2006 to 28 Jun 2007)
• Minister of State (Europe) (10 May 2005 to 5 May 2006)
• Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (Trade) (also Department of Trade and Industry) ( 9 Sep 2004 to 10 May 2005)
• Minister of State (Department of Trade and Industry) (Trade) (also Foreign and Commonwealth Office) ( 9 Sep 2004 to 10 May 2005)
• Minister of State (Cabinet Office) and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (13 Jun 2003 to 9 Sep 2004)
• Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (30 May 2002 to 13 Jun 2003)
• Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness) (11 Jun 2001 to 29 May 2002)

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Civil Contingencies Bill Committee (5 out of 8)
• Enterprise Bill Committee (4 out of 19)

Recent appearances

• Written Answers — Department for Business and Trade: Overseas Companies: Russia 14 Apr 2025

  The Department for Business and Trade does not hold any specific data on UK firms that are not in the process of divesting from operations based in Russia. UK businesses must comply with our sanctions, which form an extensive regime to constrain the Kremlin’s ability to continue the war. It is a decision for individual UK businesses on whether and how to divest from Russia in compliance...

• Written Answers — Department for Business and Trade: Export Controls 10 Apr 2025

  ECJU is implementing a new digital export licensing system, LITE, to provide a modern digital service that streamlines the export licence application process. ECJU has an ongoing programme of Continuous Improvement and we routinely identify and implement opportunities to make targeted improvements to the way we operate and manage the export licensing service to help us adapt to the changing...

• Written Answers — Department for Business and Trade: Import Duties: USA 9 Apr 2025

  We know that this will be a concerning time for businesses in Scotland; in 2024, 12.3% of goods exported from Scotland were to the US. That is why the government has been focused on negotiating an economic deal with the US and we remain committed to these discussions. The government is resolute in our support for industry across the whole of the UK, and ministers and officials will continue...

More of Douglas Alexander’s recent appearances

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