THE British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, has appointed a Scotsman and a Welshman as ministers of state for Northern Ireland. Downing Street said Mr Adam Ingram and Mr Paul Murphy will work closely with the Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, to ensure the peace process moves forward.
Clearly delighted by his appointment, Mr Murphy told journalists: "I am really looking forward to getting stuck into the job." Both men are Blairites and will replace Dr Mowlam's deputy in opposition, Mr Tony Worthington and colleague Mr Jim Dowd. Neither has so far been offered a new position.
Mr Ingram (50), is the MP for East Kilbride. He was previously the shadow science spokesman and was keen to improve the standards of science teaching in schools. He is married and has been a member of the British Irish Interparliamentary body since 1994.
A former trade union official for NALGO and a computer programmer, Mr Ingram was elected to the House of Commons in 1987. A year later he was promoted to parliamentary private secretary to former Labour leader, Mr Neil Kinnock and was prominent in the battle to oust the Militant Tendency from Labour.
Under the late John Smith's leadership, Mr Ingram was appointed shadow minister of state for social security. Although often described as abrasive, he is noted for his energy and organisational skills.
"A hard man of a likable sort; anxious to get things done, he runs the risk of saying `do this' rather, than `what do you think?' but he acknowledges the fault," says one journalist.
Despite being born in Wales, Mr Murphy (48), is proud of his Irish roots. His great grandparents were from Co Cork. In 1994, under Mr Blair's leadership, he was appointed as a shadow Northern Ireland spokesman, a post he held for a year, before being moved to shadow defence spokesman, with special responsibility for the navy.
Mr Murphy, who is a Catholic and single, was elected to the House of Commons in 1987 and represents the Welsh constituency of Torfaen. A former lecturer in history and government at Ebbw Vale College of Further Education, he joined the Labour Party at 16.
His father was a miner and mother a shopworker.
A hard working constituency MP, Mr Murphy is antiabortion, voted for the age of consent to be reduced to 16 for homosexual acts, and is concerned about the environment and the homeless. Describing his interests as classical music and cooking, he is known in the House of Commons for his speaking skills.
"He has the tradition of oratory that emanates from the Welsh valleys", said one Tory MP.
A popular local MP, he increased his majority at the election by over 5,000 votes, and now represents one of the safest Labour seats in the country, with a majority of 24,536.