Uses for a Scottish Secretary #1

It's often forgotten that the Secretary of State for Scotland still represents Scottish interests in the Cabinet when it comes to foreign affairs, defence, the economy etc. A good example of this, and the most high-profile I think post-devolution, is the apparent intervention of Douglas Alexander in preventing US planes using Prestwick Airport for refuelling en route to Israel. He is said to have told the Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett that it would "play very badly" in Scotland if the flights were allowed to stop at the airport. Instead, Defence Secretary Des Browne offered the use of RAF Mildenhall. It's difficult to believe that an intervention from the First Minister, Jack McConnell, would have had quite the same effect. A spokesman for Alexander, naturally, refused to comment on the reports.