North-east MP David Duguid has been given a ministerial job in the Scotland Office.
The Banff and Buchan Tory has been made a parliamentary under-secretary of state for Scotland.
The promotion came after Moray MP Douglas Ross quit the role last week over the Dominic Cummings lockdown controversy.
Mr Ross, in a resignation letter to the prime minister, said he could not “in good faith” tell his constituents that Mr Cummings’ decision to drive 260 miles from London to County Durham had been in line with government lockdown guidance.
Mr Ross congratulated his constituency neighbour on taking up the job, however, he said: “Many congratulations to David Duguid and Iain Stewart as they join the outstanding team at the Scotland Office.
“I’ve worked with them both since my election in 2017 and know they will do a first-class job along with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack standing up for Scotland.”
Two new faces in Dover House will be seen by some as a move to bolster the UK Government’s promotion of the Union north of the border.
However, the appointment of Mr Stewart, who was raised in Hamilton but represents Milton Keynes South, could well provide a target for Mr Johnson’s opponents as two Scottish backbenchers, Andrew Bowie and John Lamont, were not chosen for promotion.
