Jim Murphy to be SoS?

Holyrood Magazine was reporting earlier this summer that Jim Murphy, the Labour MP for Eastwood and current Minister for Europe, is being 'strongly' tipped to take over from the embattled Des Browne if the Prime Minister decides on a late recess reshuffle. The same 'senior Whitehall sources' also told the Herald that his appointment was being considered in order to have a Cabinet minister focus more attention on Scotland.

Speculation that Gordon Brown will scrap the post of Scottish Secretary altogether, and indeed the Scotland Office, (as is the desire of the Scottish Government), also resurfaces occasionally.