Alister Jack named new Scottish Secretary just two years after election

Alister Jack has been named the new Scottish Secretary by Boris Johnson, just two years after being elected as a Member of Parliament.

The 56-year-old was voted in as representative for Dumfries and Galloway in 2017 and replaces David Mundell who served in the Scotland Office for nine years.

Mr Jack said he was "honoured to have been appointed... at a time when we face very significant challenges as a country".

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson remarked he had "big shoes to fill, but Alister Jack brings huge experience from outside government into Dover House".

She added: "He has the Scottish party's full support in his new role as Secretary of State."

Mr Jack unseated the SNP's Richard Arkless in the 2017 election with an 11.2% swing and 43.3% of the vote - holding a majority of 5,643.

In April this year he was made a Government whip having served as an assistant for two months and as a parliamentary private secretary before that.

Mr Jack's appointment to the Government came just hours after Mr Mundell was removed from the role in a series of wide-ranging changes made by Mr Johnson.

Mr Mundell said he was "disappointed but not surprised" to be leaving the Government.

The long-serving Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweedale MP previously said he would find it "extremely difficult" to serve under Mr Johnson.

However sources close to the former Scottish secretary said he had been prepared to stay in the Cabinet, despite differences with the new Prime Minister.

Mr Mundell announced his departure from the Government on Twitter, pledging he would "of course" support Mr Johnson's administration.

WATCH: In an interview, with Kathryn Samson back in 2017, Jack said he was unlikely to break the mould of Conservative Party members being 'hunting, shooting, fishing toffs', but vowed to 'get things done'.