Ian Murray | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Minister of State for Digital Government and Data | |
| Assumed office 6 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Chris Bryant |
| Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts | |
| Assumed office 6 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Chris Bryant |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 5 July 2024 – 5 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Alister Jack |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Alexander |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 6 April 2020 – 5 July 2024 | |
| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Tony Lloyd |
| Succeeded by | John Lamont |
| In office 11 May 2015 – 26 June 2016 | |
| Leader |
|
| Preceded by | Margaret Curran |
| Succeeded by | Dave Anderson |
| Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment | |
| In office 7 October 2011 – 8 May 2015 | |
| Leader | Ed Miliband |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Doughty |
| Member of Parliament forEdinburgh South | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Nigel Griffiths |
| Majority | 17,251 (36.8%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1976-08-10)10 August 1976 (age 49) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Political party | Labour |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Website | Official website |
Ian Murray (born 10 August 1976) is a British politician who has served asMinister of State jointly in theDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport and theDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology since September 2025,[1] having previously served asSecretary of State for Scotland from July 2024 to September 2025. A member of theLabour Party, he has been theMember of Parliament (MP) forEdinburgh South since2010. He previously served asShadow Secretary of State for Scotland from 2015 to 2016 and again from 2020 to 2024.
Murray previously served as aCity of Edinburgh Councillor for the wards ofLiberton andLiberton/Gilmerton from 2003 to 2010. Murray was the soleLabour Party MP representing a Scottish Constituency from2015 to2017 and from2019 to2023.[2]
Ian Murray was born on 10 August 1976 inEdinburgh, to acooper father and shop assistant mother. He was brought up in theWester Hailes area of Edinburgh, where he attended Dumbryden Primary School,[3] thenWester Hailes Education Centre. Murray readSocial Policy andLaw at theUniversity of Edinburgh graduating with anM.A. Hons.[4] While studying at university, he had a part-time job in a localfish & chip shop before setting up and running apizza delivery service.
After graduation, Murray worked forRoyal Blind inpensions management, before beinghead-hunted by an Edinburgh-based internet television station (Worldart.com) during thedot-com boom where he helped to build a newonline TV station. Despite his efforts, the company ran out of funding and he was made redundant; he then founded his own event management business (100 mph Events Ltd). Murray also organised astudent exchange programme inNepal to fund school buildings and staff.[5]
In 2003, Murray stood in thelocal elections forLiberton winning the seat forLabour at the age of 27; he later represented the largerLiberton/Gilmerton ward from 2007 to 2010.[6]
At the2010 general election, Murray was elected as MP forEdinburgh South, winning the seat with 34.7% of the vote and a majority of 316.[7][8] In 2011, he was appointed to theOfficial Opposition frontbench asShadow Minister for Trade and Investment.[9]
At the2015 general election, Murray was re-elected as MP for Edinburgh South with an increased vote share of 39.1% and an increased majority of 2,637.[10][11][12] He was the only Labour MP to be returned for a Scottish constituency.[13]
He was appointedShadow Secretary of State for Scotland on 11 May 2015 by acting Labour Party leaderHarriet Harman. He was re-appointed to the same role by new leaderJeremy Corbyn in September 2015.[14] At the snap2017 general election, Murray was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 54.9% and an increased majority of 15,514.[15][16]
Prior to the2019 general election, Murray faced the threat of deselection whenUnite the Union announced it would vote to trigger an open selection. Local members refused to back such a contest so it could not proceed.[17] At the election Murray was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 47.7% and a decreased majority of 11,095.[18][19][20] Following the election, he again became Labour's only MP in Scotland.[21]
Murray was re-elected at the2024 general election, with an increased vote share of 53.3% and an increased majority of 17,251.[22][23] In 2024, Murray did not vote on abill to allow assisted dying as he was on a trade trip.[24] He had voted in favour of a similar bill in 2015.[25]
In January 2016, Corbyn made his first frontbench reshuffle. Three shadow ministers resigned in protest and were criticised by Corbyn allyJohn McDonnell as being part of a "narrow right wing clique" aligned with theBlairiteProgress group. Murray, a Progress member, was interviewed on theSunday Politics Scotland programme on 10 January and criticised McDonnell, saying he should "ramp down the rhetoric".[26]
On 26 June 2016, two days after theEU referendum, Murrayresigned with other members of the Shadow Cabinet, citing a lack of confidence in Corbyn's leadership ability to win a general election.[27][28] He then nominatedOwen Smith in his failedleadership challenge against Corbyn. Following Corbyn's re-election as Labour leader with an increased majority, Murray said he would only return to the frontbench if Corbyn reinstated Shadow Cabinet elections and stopped using the threat ofdeselection to enforce loyalty.[29] He later accused Corbyn of being "all over the place" on potential Labour cooperation with the SNP.[30] His replacement as Shadow Scottish Secretary,Dave Anderson refused to rule out a deal with the SNP at Westminster.[31]
On 7 January 2020, Murray announced that he would stand for election to beDeputy Leader of the Labour Party in thedeputy leadership election.[32] During the contest, he received the backing of former Prime MinistersGordon Brown andTony Blair.[33] Murray finished in fourth place and was appointed asShadow Secretary of State for Scotland by new party leaderKeir Starmer.[34][35]
Murray nominatedAnas Sarwar in the2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[36]
Following Labour's victory in the2024 general election, Murray was appointedSecretary of State for Scotland byPrime Minister of the United KingdomKeir Starmer. This mirrors his former position in the shadow cabinet.[37] It was revealed that Murray received a £5,200 donation from the Baronet Gordon Dalyell during the 2024 general election.[38]
In 2024, Murray became the first serving Secretary of State to take paternity leave, following the birth of his second child.[39]
In September 2025, Murray was relieved of his post following a cabinet reshuffle. He returned as Minister of State jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology the following day.[40]
At the2014 Scottish independence referendum, Murray campaigned against independence. He claimed to have encountered hostility from independence activists and reported that his office premises had been plastered with pro-independence "Yes" stickers,[41] which were immediately removed. He is a member of theFabian Society.[42]
Murray supports Edinburgh-based football teamHearts and was previously chair of the 'Foundation of Hearts', a bid by a fans' group to buy-out the club fromadministration. He stepped down in May 2015 in order to focus on his parliamentary duties, and was replaced by Brian Cormack.[43][44]
On 20 August 2020, Murray's partner Mariam gave birth to a daughter, Zola.[45] In January 2025, Murray announced the birth of his second child, Lois. Murray was the first serving Secretary of State to take paternity leave.[46]
Murray was sworn of thePrivy Council on 10 July 2024, entitling him to be styled "The Right Honourable" for life.[47]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forEdinburgh South 2010–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland 2015–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland 2020–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Secretary of State for Scotland 2024–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Secretaries of state for Scotland 1707–1746 | .svg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Secretaries for Scotland 1885–1926 | ||
| Secretaries of state for Scotland (pre-devolution) 1926–1999 | ||
| Secretaries of state for Scotland (post-devolution) 1999–present | ||
