MURRAY 'ANGER' OVER SACKING

Starmer ditched stalwart as Scottish secretary on phone with no warning

- BY RECORD REPORTER

IAN Murray has been left furious after he was sacked by Keir Starmer as Scottish secretary over the phone with no warning, pals of the MP have said.

The Prime Minister has faced a backlash from Labour members in Scotland over his handling of a Cabinet reshuffle which one warned will “fuel conspiracy theories”.

The Record understands Murray got a call from Starmer to inform him of his sacking at 12.30pm on Friday while at an official event in Edinburgh with Ann Budge, the former Hearts chief executive.

He was later seen drafting his resignation statement at Edinburgh Airport before flying to London.

The decision came as a total surprise to the MP and his many allies in the party. But his time out of government was short as he subsequently accepted the posts of Minister of State for the UK culture and science departments.