Biography: Douglas Alexander MP

Douglas Alexander MP was appointed Secretary of State for International Development on 28 June 2007.

Douglas Alexander was previously Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland from May 2006 to June 2007. He was Minister of State for Europe from May 2005 to May 2006, Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs from September 2004 to April 2005 and Minister for e-Commerce and Competitiveness at the Department for Trade and Industry in June 2001. In May 2002 he moved to the Cabinet Office, becoming Minister for the Cabinet Office in June 2003 where, among other things, he led on the Government's better regulation agenda, public and civil service reform and e-government.

Douglas Alexander was born in Glasgow in 1967 and educated in Scotland and Canada, going on to study at Edinburgh University and the University of Pennsylvania. He worked as a lawyer before entering Parliament in 1997. He is married with two children.

Read Douglas Alexander's speeches