Gray appointed special advisor

Iain Gray lost his Edinburgh Pentlands seat at May's elections

Scotland's former enterprise minister has been appointed as a special advisor to Secretary of State Alistair Darling.

Iain Gray, who lost his Edinburgh Pentlands seat in May's elections, was invited to take the post Mr Darling before being formally approved by Downing Street.

A Scotland Office spokeswoman said Mr Gray took up his new post on Wednesday.

She said: "The secretary of state has emphasised the importance of strengthening the partnership between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive.

"Iain Gray's experience will contribute to this partnership approach."

Holyrood seat

A Labour Party spokesman said there is no one better qualified to fill the post.

However, shadow Scottish Secretary Jaqui Lait said the appointment smacked of Labour looking after its own and "jobs for the boys".

She said: "It does nothing to settle Alistair Darling's conflict of interests when he deals with Scottish transport issues and is also Secretary of State for Scotland."

Mr Gray, a married father of three children, lost his seat to Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie.

During his time in parliament he served as a deputy minister in the departments of community care, justice, social justice and was also given the enterprise portfolio.