I hope to come back stronger

Alexander on his battle for Westminster seat

- ANDREW QUINN

DOUGLAS Alexander hopes his shock defeat to Mhairi Black will help him become a "better politician".

The former New Labour heavyweight served in various Cabinet roles under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown before he lost his Paisley and Renfrewshire North seat at the 2015 general election.

He was one of 40 Labour MPs in Scotland who were swept away in an SNP landslide.

Alexander is now planning a political comeback after he was selected as the Labour candidate for the East Lothian constituency.

In his first national interview since his candidacy was confirmed, he refused to say if he was eyeing a Cabinet job if Labour triumphs.

He told the Record: "My ambition is to be a Labour gain in East Lothian and to represent that community in Parliament."

Since losing in 2015, Alexander has been a senior fellow at Harvard University, taught at New York University and even worked as an adviser to U2 singer Bono.