Brexit, economic turmoil and political scandal have so damaged Britain’s international standing that people regularly ask Douglas Alexander: “What’s happened, we thought the UK was a serious country?”
The veteran Labour Party politician fields that point as he seeks a return to the front line, bringing with him a wide experience in global affairs. Mr Alexander lost his seat eight years ago after a stellar career at the top of the party working as the cabinet minister in charge of overseas aid and, before that, as a close aide to Gordon Brown in the Tony Blair-led government that ruled from 1997.
“We have a responsibility if Labour is elected to rebuild trust and to rebuild our reputation with many of our closest friends and neighbours,” Mr Alexander told The National while campaigning in Scotland for the UK general election.
The dawn of a Britain under Labour may resurrect his political career after the humiliation of losing his seat to Mhairi Black, then a 20-year-old Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate, in 2015 and perhaps thrust him back into the cabinet.
Since losing his seat, Britain has lurched from Brexit to the political dysfunction of five prime ministers in eight years and Mr Alexander has seen much in the affairs of state that angers him.
“What this Conservative government has done over the last 14 years to Britain's international standing is profound,” he said.
Labour would “turn the page on the economic and political chaos that has been so damaging to so many people's lives” and the “deep sense of anger about a Conservative government that partied its way through the pandemic”.
There is talk – fiercely denied – of him being appointed foreign secretary, given that he will be among the government’s most experienced politicians having served in the last Labour administration as international development secretary.
Helping to find Middle East peace could be the first step in rehabilitating Britain’s battered overseas reputation, said Mr Alexander, 56.
“We can have a British government that sends a very positive signal at home and abroad that the UK is back as a serious country willing to shoulder its share of responsibilities in the face of significant challenges.”
The ties holding the UK together that nearly snapped could well be strengthened by a Labour government, perhaps drawing Scotland closer to the other nations.
Westminster’s relationship with Scotland has been severely damaged under Conservative stewardship, particularly with Brexit and Boris Johnson’s high-handed tenure, although the last time a majority of Scots voted for a Tory government was 1955.
Labour leader Keir Starmer would do well to appoint one if not two Scottish MPs to his cabinet once he becomes prime minister to “give Scots a sense that Britain is once again a comfortable home for them”, according to political analyst Chris Deerin, from Edinburgh.
In the Harvard-educated Mr Alexander, the government would have a polished veteran of international affairs, who has spent time out of politics travelling the world, including a period as a lecturer at New York University in Abu Dhabi and addressing world poverty as an adviser to Bono of U2.
That gives him the air of a traveller who understands much of the world’s woes that have multiplied since Labour were voted out of office in 2010.
Mr Alexander reminisces that back then Donald Trump was “still selling real estate” and at the start of Labour’s tenure in 1997 Britain’s economy was “bigger than China’s” and it still had Hong Kong as a territory.
Others suggest his time outside politics have formed a “more rounded character” and “softened the edges”.
Arab diplomacy
With the Firth of Forth's waters to his back in the pretty fishing village of Port Seton, Mr Alexander suggested a grasp of world politics with a well-tuned view is what is required for peace in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
“One of the ironies is that beyond this immediate crisis is the possibility of not just a two-state solution, but for a 23-state solution involving the 21 members of the Arab League as well, which has been a dream of many people in Israel and beyond for many years,” he said.
But that outcome had been hindered by a combination of Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Alexander spoke of the Israeli Prime Minister's failure to “take the steps that many of us would have liked to have seen”.
“One of the many, many tragedies of the situation is that those outside the region, and many countries in the region, seem more committed to peace than some of the principal actors,” he said.
“It’s a vexing, horrendous situation where the suffering is huge.”
He also speaks with insight of the work CIA director Bill Burns is doing behind the scenes for a peace deal and refers to the “need to do the quiet, hard yards of diplomacy to encourage a sustainable peace”.
Positive force
His views are echoed by Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, who told The National his party “will be a positive force in the world”, particularly where Palestine and Israel are concerned.
“Britain will seek to use its alliances, its relationships and its convening power to try to persuade people towards that two-state solution,” he said, speaking on board his battle bus in Methil, Fife.
But he admitted the international community “has looked pretty toothless in the face of what is a horrific situation”.
Mr Sarwar, of Pakistani Muslim heritage and a close ally of Mr Starmer, “completely supported” Labour’s manifesto recognition of a Palestinian state that it “is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not the gift of a neighbour”.
Disunited kingdom
The desire of many Scots to remain within the union, which was tested in the 2014 referendum when 45 per cent voted for independence, has largely eroded.
Scotland had 59 out of the 650 Westminster MPs of the four nations of the UK, but the majority of them in the last parliament – 43 – were SNP.
There is now a chance for Scotland to feel properly represented in Westminster, with Labour in power likely to “give Scots a sense that Britain is a comfortable home for them and that they belong in the United Kingdom”, said Chris Deerin, of Reform Scotland, a political think tank.
That remedial action may lead Mr Starmer “to put Scottish people in senior jobs” because the ambition for Labour in Scotland, where it could overtake the SNP in numbers of MPs, is “wanting the union to continue”.
“And that's not a sure thing at the moment as Westminster has become very English to Scots,” Mr Deerin said.
Appointing Mr Alexander to the cabinet would be a swift, first remedy, he added. “Douglas is one of the few people who goes in with experience of the top table in government and has made incredible connections in his work abroad.”
If Scotland can prosper under Labour, he said, then the independence movement will recede.
“There's a lot of people who just want this constitutional debate to go away, especially when our police and hospitals are in trouble, schools are doing badly and our economy is not working,” said Mr Deerin.
But he said Mr Starmer has five or, if he gets a second term, 10 years to demonstrate that the UK can be that “comfortable home” for the Scots, otherwise pressure for another independence referendum would be insurmountable.
Gulf dynamic
There should, therefore, be little surprise in seeing Mr Alexander stride up Downing Street on July 5 with the offer of a post in Mr Starmer’s government.
But, he claims, his entire focus now is winning the East Lothian constituency just outside Edinburgh and fends off the cabinet probing with the Sir Alex Ferguson allegory of “staying in the tunnel” before the big match.
“I'm not going to indulge in post-match analysis before a ball is even been kicked.”
Acknowledging Mr Alexander’s likely rapid ascendancy, Mr Sarwar said his colleague’s experience “will be vital” in steadying Britain.
UK general election campaigning - in pictures
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Conservative leader Rishi Sunak speaks at party campaign event at the National Army Museum in London on Wednesday, July 3. AP Photo -
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer addresses supporters during a visit to the West Regwm Farm events venue in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, Wales, on the final day of election campaigning. PA -
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey drives a tractor during a visit to Owl Lodge in Lacock, Wiltshire. PA -
Satirical political character Count Binface in London before challenging Conservative leader RishiSunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton. Reuters -
Boris Johnson, former UK prime minister, campaigns for the Conservatives in London. Bloomberg -
Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right Reform UK Party, with heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora during a campaign visit to Clacton-on-Sea in eastern England. Reuters -
Mr Sunak holds a speech during his visit to Well Healthcare Supplies as he campaigns in Stoke. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer laughs as he speaks to supporters near Milton Keynes. AP -
Mr Davey bungee jumps during a visit to Eastbourne Borough Football Club in East Sussex. AP -
Mr Sunak bowls during his visit to Nuneaton Cricket Club. AFP -
Mr Starmer addresses an audience of Labour Party members and supporters during a rally at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London. AP -
Mr Davey rides a towable inflatable during a visit to Lakeside Ski & Wake, in the Cotswolds. Reuters -
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visit the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London. AFP -
Mr Starmer during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Kingsbury, London. PA -
Mr Davey participates in a Zumba class with supporters in Wokingham. Reuters -
Mr Starmer speaking during a visit to Northampton Town Football Club at Sixfields Stadium. PA -
Mr Sunak delivers a speech in central London. AFP -
Mr Davey jet-washes an ambulance in London. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer rests his hand on the shoulder of Idris Elba as they meet families of knife crime victims, in west London. PA -
Mr Sunak turns on the power in the training centre control room during a tour of the Sizewell B nuclear power plant. AFP -
Mr Davey plays a game of Frisbee on a visit to a farm in Hampshire. AP -
Mr Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves visit a supermarket in Swindon. PA -
Mr Sunak speaks to journalists on the campaign bus following the launch of the Welsh Conservatives General Election manifesto near Rhyl. Reuters -
Mr Davey taking part in wheelbarrow racing at Huish Park, home of Yeovil Town football club in Somerset. PA -
Mr Farage speaks to the press in Clacton-on-Sea. Bloomberg -
Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of the Labour party's 2024 general election manifesto in Manchester. AP -
Mr Sunak answers questions from the audience in Grimsby. Getty Images -
Mr Davey toasts a marshmallow as he visits Willow Forest School in Surrey. EPA -
Mr Farage attends the launch of the Reform UK manifesto in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Reuters -
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar launches Scottish Labour’s battle bus campaign on June 17 in South Queensferry, Scotland. Getty Images -
Britain's Labour Party politician and Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting speaks to a television crew outside the BBC in London. AFP -
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, on the BBC 1 current affairs programme, Sunday, with Laura Kuenssberg. BBC -
Mr Sunak meets pupils in a maths class during a visit to the John Whitgift Academy, in Grimsby. AP -
Mr Starmer during a visit to Grimsby Institute, a technical training college in Grimsby. PA -
Mr Davey during a general election campaign visit to the Aqua Jungle Spot in Stratford-upon-Avon. Bloomberg -
Mr Sunak and Akshata Murty take centre stage at the Conservative Party's general election manifesto launch in Towcester. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer passes a toothbrush to a child during his visits to the Whale Hill Primary School in Middlesbrough. AP -
Mr Davey meets Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat candidate for Torbay and his guide dog Jennie at Torquay Harbour. Getty Images -
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacts after something is thrown towards him on the campaign bus in Cawthorne, Barnsley. AP -
Mr Sunak attends a neighbourhood watch meeting in Horsham, West Sussex. PA -
Mr Starmer helps volunteers pot plants during a visit to Harlesden Town Garden in north-west London. PA -
Mr Davey on the 'Rush' ride during a Liberal Democrats general election campaign event at Thorpe Park. Reuters -
Mr Sunak, during a visit to Imagination Childcare, in Swindon, Wiltshire, while on the election campaign trail. PA -
Mr Starmer visits Brent Cross town's visitor pavilion for a housing launch in London. Getty Images -
Mr Davey grills burgers in a garden, during campaigning in Wiltshire. PA -
Mr Sunak during a visit to Leander Club, in Henley-on-Thames, as a boat carrying Liberal Democrat supporters passes behind him. Reuters -
Mr Starmer meets pensioners to talk about the impact of the energy crisis and the cost of living, in a cafe in Bolton. PA -
Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer lock horns the first televised general election debate of the campaign, at MediaCity in Salford. PA -
Mr Davey plays Jenga using symbolic 'blue wall' blocks in Stockport. EPA -
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn poses outside Islington Town Hall, north London, after handing in his nomination papers for the general election, taking place on July 4. PA -
Mr Farage has a milkshake hurled at him during a campaign event in Clacton-on-Sea. EPA -
Mr Sunak launches the Conservative Party's campaign bus at Redcar Racecourse in north-east England. PA -
Labour launch their election campaign bus, with Mr Starmer, his deputy Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, in Uxbridge. Getty Images -
Mr Davey holds a balloon with a figure that represents the amount of votes the Liberal Democrat party lost by in Wimbledon. PA -
Mr Sunak feeds lambs as he visits Rowlinson's Farm during a Conservative general election campaign event in Gawsworth. Reuters -
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Starmer, shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband and local candidate Martin McCluskey in Greenock. PA -
Mr Sunak holds a question and answer session during a visit to Niftylift in Milton Keynes. EPA -
Mr Starmer serves ice cream to day trippers on Barry seafront in South Wales. PA -
Mr Davey takes part in a baking lesson with pupils from High Beeches Primary School during a half-term holiday camp in Hertfordshire. PA -
Mr Sunak speaks with a cafe worker as he picks up breakfast for the media at a cafe in Cornwall. PA -
Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of Labour's six steps for change in Wales at the Priory Centre in Abergavenny. PA -
Mr Davey and Anna Sabine, parliamentary candidate for Frome and East Somerset, ride the Ultimate Slip 'n' Slide at Eastcote Farm in Beckington. Bloomberg -
Scottish National Party Leader John Swinney speaks during a visit to The Dower House Cafe in Edinburgh. AP -
Rishi Sunak examines Jackal armoured vehicles during his visit to defence vehicle manufacturer Supacat in Exeter. PA -
Keir Starmer with a baby at Worcester City Football Club. PA -
Ed Davey rides a bike during a visit to Knighton, Wales. PA -
Nigel Farage at the cliffs in Dover after speaking at a Reform UK event. Getty Images -
Akshata Murty, wife of Mr Sunak, meets with residents during a visit to a Royal British Legion care home in Ripon. Getty Images -
Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves during a visit to Rolls Royce’s educational training complex in Derby. PA -
Ed Davey falls into the water while paddle boarding on Lake Windermere. PA -
Rishi Sunak campaigning in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. EPA -
Mr Starmer addresses party members and media in Lancing Parish Hall, West Sussex. Getty Images -
Mr Davey launches his party's general election campaign battle bus in Cambridge. PA -
Mr Sunak on the ball during a visit to Chesham United Football Club. PA -
Mr Starmer speaks to party supporters after making his first keynote speech of the campaign in Lancing. PA -
Mr Davey join supporters for a dog walk near Winchester. PA -
Mr Sunak visits a maritime technology centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as he campaigns for the general election on July 4. Reuters -
Mr Starmer and his Scottish counterpart, Anas Sarwar, greet supporters at the launch of the Scottish Labour general election campaign at Caledonia House in Glasgow. Getty Images -
Mr Davey, right, eats ice cream with his party's local candidate, Josh Babarinde, on the promenade in Eastbourne. PA -
Mr Sunak arrives at Inverness Airport, in Scotland, on the general election campaign trail. PA -
Mr Starmer during a visit to Gillingham Football Club in Kent. PA -
Mr Sunak speaks with members of staff at the Global Energy Group facility at the Port of Nigg in north-east Scotland. AFP -
Mr Davey during a visit to the town centre in Cheltenham. PA -
Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, attends an election campaign launch in London. AP -
Mr Sunak holds a Q&A with staff of a West Transport distribution centre in Ilkeston in the East Midlands. AP -
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner and Mr Starmer arrive at Gillingham FC. Getty Images -
Mr Sunak takes questions from workers at West Transport. Getty Images -
Mr Starmer holds a piece of campaign branding at Gillingham. PA -
Mr Sunak poses for a selfie in Ilkeston. AFP
Mr Alexander has also been “very struck by the high dynamic and potential” of the Gulf states, having worked in the UAE.
“I applaud the efforts that Labour has made to emphasise how important we see Gulf partners as being one of the real growth pools in the global economy,” he said.
The area was also “highly influential in terms of the geopolitics of the divided world in which we live” and he hoped it would remain a key focus for the Labour front bench.
He may well very soon be able to turn that hope into reality.
