Scotland’s Secretary of State has welcomed the King’s Speech, pointing to defence investment and energy security as central to the legislative programme’s relevance for Scotland.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland, said Scotland was “at the very heart” of the government’s drive on energy security, arguing that accelerating the transition to clean, home-grown energy would “protect families from the volatility of global oil and gas prices, and build the energy security our country needs.”

On defence, Alexander was direct about the stakes. “The world we live in is more dangerous and more volatile than at any point in our lifetime,” he said, adding that Scotland’s contribution to national security “through our defence industries, our bases, and our service personnel… has never been more important. We will invest in that security to ensure Britain can stand strong alongside our allies.”

The Scottish Secretary described the broader programme as a long-term undertaking rather than a short-term fix, describing an “unrelenting focus on economic growth, removing the barriers that have held back businesses and workers, and delivering an industrial strategy that creates well-paid jobs and gives young Scots the opportunities they deserve.”

“This is not a quick fix,” Alexander said. “It is a long-term plan to spread opportunity, rebuild public services, and ensure that every family — whether in Glasgow, Inverness or anywhere across the UK — can look to the future with confidence.”