South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has been appointed as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity in Scottish Labour Leader Richard Leonard’s recent reshuffle.

The move means the local Labour MSP has had infrastructure- which includes growth deals such as the Borderlands and Ayrshire Growth Deals as well as Town Centre regeneration- added to his existing Labour Spokesperson responsibilities for Transport and Connectivity.

He will continue to be Labour’s spokesperson on issues relating to the new South of Scotland Enterprise Agency. Legislation for the new agency is due to be published in the next few weeks and will then go before the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy Committee- where Colin is the only member representing the South of Scotland.

Colin Smyth said, “I am delighted to have infrastructure added to my existing spokesperson responsibilities for Transport and Connectivity. This means leading for Labour on all issues relating to growth deals, which is massively important for this area and continuing to be spokesperson for the party in Parliament on plans for the new South of Scotland Enterprise Agency. Whether it is the need to fight for more investment in road, rail, buses and active travel, better broadband and mobile connectivity and support for the local economy, the issues in my role are the issues constituents locally raise on a daily basis, so I fully intend to use my new post to fight for the South of Scotland”.