Ian Murray: From lone Scottish Labour MP to Scottish secretary – BBC News

The Edinburgh South MP said his priority as Scottish secretary would be economic growth, creating jobs and reducing poverty.

He added he was “determined to reset the relationship” between Westminster and Holyrood.

He was left as Scotland’s only Labour MP in 2015 after retaining his seat in the face of an SNP landslide. Scottish Labour lost 40 of its 41 seats in that general election.

In the 2017 election Mr Murray increased his majority as Scottish Labour increased its representation to seven.

Previously, he had served as a councillor between 2003 and 2010 for the Liberton and Gilmerton ward in Edinburgh and went on to win fans across the capital when he led the campaign to save Hearts Football Club from administration as the chairman of the supporters group.

Mr Murray was born to a cooper father and shop worker mother in August 1976.

Brought up in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh, he went to Dumbryden primary school, then Wester Hailes Education Centre.

Mr Murray studied social policy and law at Edinburgh University and graduated with an honours degree at the age of 20.

He worked to fund his studies with a part-time job in a local fish and chip shop, where he then set up and ran a pizza delivery service.

After graduating in 1997, Mr Murray worked in financial services before setting up an internet television station.

He then started his own event management business running large festival events. He has also owned a small bar and hotel business, running several premises.