Lord Donald Cameron appointed as Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Scotland in the House of Lords

Lord Donald Cameron has stepped down from his position as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Highlands and Islands, taking up a new role as Parliamentary Undersecretary of State at the Scotland Office. The King approved the appointment on Friday, granting Cameron a life peerage, which will see him swap his seat in Holyrood for a position in the House of Lords.

Having served as a list MSP since 2016, Lord Cameron expressed his honour at being appointed to the UK Government role. He remarked, “I am honoured to have been appointed as a UK Government minister and to the House of Lords. As part of the Scotland Office team, I look forward to continuing our work representing Scotland at the heart of Whitehall, upholding the devolution settlement, and ensuring Scotland continues to benefit from the UK Government’s ambitious levelling up agenda.”

Lord Cameron, who is a qualified lawyer, also thanked the voters in the Highlands and Islands for the opportunity to serve them at Holyrood, as well as his colleagues in the Scottish Conservative Party. “It’s been a great honour to be a member of the shadow cabinet under Douglas Ross,” he added.

Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, welcomed Lord Cameron’s appointment, praising his legal expertise and parliamentary experience. He stated, “Donald will do a great job helping us to deliver on the priorities of people in Scotland.”

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross also paid tribute to Lord Cameron’s contributions, saying, “He has been a superb MSP and a hugely valued member of my shadow cabinet team, covering many crucial portfolios. The knowledge, wisdom, and decency he has displayed at Holyrood ensure he will be a great addition to the Scotland Office team.”

Tim Eagle will now take over Lord Cameron’s position as MSP for the Highlands and Islands. Ross welcomed Eagle, highlighting his experience in agriculture, rural consultancy, and local government, stating that Eagle would be an excellent advocate for the region.

However, the move was criticised by SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, who argued that it demonstrated the Tories’ “contempt for democracy” and described Cameron’s departure from an elected position as “shameful.” Sheppard criticised the House of Lords as “undemocratic” and “outdated,” calling for a vote for the SNP to end the influence of the Tories and the Lords.