Danny Alexander

Alexander was born in Edinburgh. As a child he lived on the island of Colonsay where his father was a firefighter, potter and deputy pier master. He attended Colonsay Primary School. The family then moved briefly to South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, and next to Invergarry on the mainland, where he attended Invergarry Primary School.

He was then educated at Lochaber High School, Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. He went on to study Philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at St Anne's College, Oxford.Dinwoodie, Robin (31 May 2010) "The boy from Colonsay takes on critical job at Treasury", The Herald; accessed 11 February 2016.

From 1993 to 1994, Alexander worked as a press officer with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, before spending eight years as the Director of communications at the European Movement (1996–1999) and its successor organisation, the Britain in Europe campaign (1999–2004). From 2004 to 2005, he was the head of communications for Cairngorms National Park,{{Cite news|last=Maitland|first=Jonathan|date=2010-09-21|title=Radio 4 Profile: Danny Alexander|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-11328643|url-status=live|access-date=2020-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628060109/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-11328643|archive-date=28 June 2020}} considered by some critics as being his "biggest job outside of politics".{{Cite news|last=Stacey|first=Kiran|date=23 April 2015|title=Danny Alexander: the 'ludicrously optimistic' battler|newspaper=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/f5973238-ca1e-3229-afa7-c784d8feabd3|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928221328/https://www.ft.com/content/f5973238-ca1e-3229-afa7-c784d8feabd3|archive-date=28 September 2019|access-date=28 June 2020}}

Alexander was elected to the newly formed constituency of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey in the 2005 general election. He won the seat from David Stewart, who was previously the Labour MP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, the basis of the new constituency.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

In August 2005, it was revealed that Christopher Haskins, a Labour peer who was a friend of Alexander, had donated £2,500 to Alexander's campaign; subsequently Haskins was expelled from the Labour party for this action.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4275578.stm|title=Labour peer expelled from party for improper donation|date=23 September 2005|access-date=2 November 2006|work=BBC News}}

At the start of the new parliament in 2005, Alexander was appointed by party leader Charles Kennedy as a junior spokesman for Work and Pensions, responsible for disability issues, where he contributed to debates on incapacity Benefit reform, the Child Support Agency and the Turner Report on future pension provision in the United Kingdom. From 2005 to 2008, he was also a member of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

In 2007, he was appointed as Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Social Exclusion for six months, before becoming the party's spokesperson for Work and Pensions, holding the post until June 2008. He gave this post up to focus on his role as chief of staff to the new party leader, Nick Clegg, as well as his responsibility for leading the preparation of the party's election manifesto.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8552760.stm|title=BBC News - Lib Dem manifesto 'to the point'|work=bbc.co.uk}}

In June 2008, Alexander gave up the Work and Pensions brief to become Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg.{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/people/danny-alexander |title=Danny Alexander bio |publisher=Scotlibdems.org.uk |date=5 December 2009 |access-date=20 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420221350/http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/people/danny-alexander |archive-date=20 April 2010 |df=dmy-all }} As part of his role Alexander became the main author of the 2010 Liberal Democrat general election manifesto and became a confidant of the leader.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/backroom-boys-and-girls-behind-nick-cleggs-rapid-rise-to-power-03tj5nfs6qc|title=Backroom boys and girls behind Nick Clegg's rapid rise to power|work=The Times|last1=Pavia|first1=Will}} After the election Alexander became one to the key negotiators in the coalition discussions with the Conservatives and played a key role in the negotiating of the Coalition agreement alongside Oliver Letwin.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/danny-alexander-straitlaced-loyalist-who-played-a-key-role-in-coalition-negotiations-1987489.html |title=Straight laced loyalist who played a key role in coalition negotiations |publisher=Independent.co.uk |date=31 May 2010 |access-date=20 October 2010 |location=London |first=Michael |last=Savage}}

Following the 2010 general election, Alexander was part of the Liberal Democrats key negotiating team alongside Chris Huhne, David Laws and Andrew Stunell that brokered the agreement to go into a governing coalition with the Conservatives.Haroon Siddique, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/11/hung-parliament-negotiators-profiles Profiles: The Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour negotiators], The Guardian, 11 May 2010 He was initially appointed Secretary of State for Scotland for the coalition government, then was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury after the resignation of David Laws on 29 May 2010. He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor on 13 May 2010.{{cite web

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Following the negotiations between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, Alexander was appointed to the cabinet as the Secretary of State for Scotland making him one of five Liberal Democrats to serve in the Cameron–Clegg coalition.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8676654.stm |title=Lib Dem Danny Alexander to be Scottish Secretary |work=BBC News |date=12 May 2010 |access-date=20 October 2010}}

As part of his role Alexander was given responsibility to implement the recommendations of the Calman Commission which was to give more fiscal powers to the Scottish Parliament, the promise to implement the proposals had formed part of the coalition agreement.{{cite news|last=Johnson |first=Simon |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/7717023/Coalition-government-David-Cameron-and-Nick-Clegg-to-give-Scotland-new-tax-powers.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516021223/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/scotland/7717023/Coalition-government-David-Cameron-and-Nick-Clegg-to-give-Scotland-new-tax-powers.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 May 2010 |title=Cameron and Clegg to give new tax raising powers to Scotland |publisher=The Telegraph |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=20 October 2010 |location=London}} See also: Scotland Act 2012

In his first official visit to Scotland in his new capacity Alexander was accompanied by the Prime Minister David Cameron for a series of meetings with the First Minister Alex Salmond. Cameron called for a fresh start in relations between the parliaments in Westminster and Holyrood and committed to appearing every year to answer questions at the Scottish Parliament. {{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Alexander's tenure as Scottish Secretary was short lived, and just over two weeks from his appointment on 29 May 2010 he was promoted to the role of Chief Secretary to the Treasury following the resignation of David Laws. Michael Moore, MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, replaced Alexander as Secretary of State for Scotland.{{cite news|last=Taylor |first=Brian|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10193440 |title=Moore named new Scottish Secretary|publisher=BBC Scotland |date=30 May 2010|access-date=20 October 2010}}

The move to the Treasury and the effective number two position to chancellor George Osborne marked his second cabinet post in under a month. The role effectively put Alexander in charge of the government's deficit reduction plan.

Two days after being appointed to his new position, The Daily Telegraph newspaper published front-page allegations that Alexander had exploited a legal loophole to avoid the payment of capital gains tax on a property he had sold in 2007 alleging that he had profited from a "morally dubious" loophole to avoid paying capital gains tax. A few days earlier, the same newspaper had caused the resignation of Alexander's predecessor David Laws after finding irregularities in his expenses claims. The paper suggested that "the fact that Mr Alexander has become the second Lib Dem to face questions about his finances within three days has focused attention on whether the party leadership has properly audited the financial activities of its senior figures".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/liberal-democrat-mps-expenses/7787519/Danny-Alexander-new-Treasury-chief-avoided-capital-gains-tax-on-house.html|title=Danny Alexander, new Treasury chief, avoided capital gains tax on house|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=30 May 2010|location=London, UK|first1=Jon|last1=Swaine|first2=Holly|last2=Watt}}

Alexander had bought the property, a London flat, in 1999 and, after being elected to parliament for a Scottish constituency in 2005, designated the property as his "second home" while claiming that his first home was now in his constituency. The property was then sold in 2007 for a profit on which he paid no capital gains tax.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/30/alexander-replaces-laws-at-treasury|location=London, UK|work=The Guardian|title=Danny Alexander in spotlight over tax loophole|first1=Matthew|last1=Taylor|first2=Patrick|last2=Wintour|date=30 May 2010}}

As the property was the only one he owned, up until 2006, HM Revenue and Customs rules meant that capital gains tax was not payable as should someone find a buyer for their home within three years the property qualifies for relief from [capital gains tax] as long as the property has been the only or main home at some point. Speaking at the time Alexander said "I have always listed London as my second home on the basis set out in the parliamentary rules as I spent more time in Scotland than I did in London."{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10195707.stm|title=Treasury chief Danny Alexander 'paid home sale taxes'|work=BBC News|date=31 May 2010|access-date=20 October 2010}} The Daily Telegraph stated "there is no suggestion that Mr Alexander has actually broken any tax laws".{{cite news|last=Swaine|first=Jon|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/liberal-democrat-mps-expenses/7787519/Danny-Alexander-new-Treasury-chief-avoided-capital-gains-tax-on-house.html|title=Danny Alexander avoided paying capital gains tax on house|publisher=The Telegraph|date=30 May 2010|access-date=20 October 2010|location=London, UK}}

{{see also|2010 Spending Review}}

File:MP Danny Alexander on Sky News.jpg in 2010]]

On 8 June 2010 Alexander and the Chancellor George Osborne announced details of how they would conduct the government's spending review which would set spending limits for every government department for the period from 2011 to 2012 up until 2014–15. As part of the review due to be announced on 20 October 2010 a star chamber was established chaired by Osborne and Alexander designed to scrutinise the spending plans of each government department.{{cite web|url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_10_10.htm |title=Spending Review 2010 |publisher=Hm-treasury.gov.uk |date=8 June 2010 |access-date=20 October 2010}} Shortly after the announcement of how the review would take place, Alexander announced on 17 June 2010 that £2billion worth of projects agreed by the previous Labour government would be cancelled. The projects included an £80million loan to Sheffield Forgemasters and the cancellation of a £25million visitors centre at Stonehenge. Labour attacked the plans as an "attack on jobs" but Alexander countered by saying that the previous government had gone on a "pre-election spending spree in the full knowledge that the government had long since run out of money."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10341015 |title=Coalition government axes £2bn of projects |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=20 October 2010}}

Following the announcement on the cancellation of projects, Alexander worked closely with the Chancellor George Osborne to produce an emergency budget on 22 June 2010 which announced a series of measures designed to reduce the United Kingdom's budget deficit. Measures included a rise in the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20% starting in 2011, a rise in Capital gains tax from 18% to 28% and the introduction of a levy on the banks designed to raise £2 billion a year.{{cite news|author1=Larry Elliott |author2=Patrick Wintour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/jun/22/budget-2010-vat-austerity-plan |title=VAT austerity plan |work=The Guardian |date=22 June 2010 |access-date=20 October 2010 |location=London}} Defending the budget against allegations that it disproportionately hit the poor hardest, Alexander described it as "fair" and "progressive" saying "this is a Budget that protects the most vulnerable – especially children in poverty and pensioners – while ensuring those with the broadest shoulders take the greatest share of the burden.".{{cite news|last=Howarth |first=Angus |url=http://news.scotsman.com/news/Alexander-denies-emergency-Budget-will.6404291.jp|title=Alexander denies emergency budget hits vulnerable hardest|publisher=News.scotsman.com|date=7 July 2010|access-date=20 October 2010|location=Edinburgh, UK}}

Following the budget, and in the period until the spending review, Alexander found himself at the heart of controversial spending decisions made by the government. A series of leaked letters from cabinet ministers showed that the spending review was causing strain within government departments including within the Department for Work and Pensions when a memo from Osborne to Iain Duncan Smith suggested that deep cuts to the welfare budget had already been agreed, prompting accusations by Labour that the cuts were "vicious" and an attack on the poorest in society. In response Alexander said "I am not going to comment on a leaked letter but what I will say is that with welfare spending making up nearly £200 billion, of course it is something we have to look at in the context of the spending review."{{cite news|author=Mark Smith, Toby Helm, and agencies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/sep/12/welfare-budget-cuts-danny-alexander|title=Welfare budget cuts defended by Danny Alexander|work=The Guardian|date=12 September 2010|access-date=20 October 2010|location=London, UK}}

Further controversy came when the Treasury announced that the Ministry of Defence would have to include the £20 billion replacement of Trident within their budget on top of potential cuts of potentially up to 10 and 20%.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10812825|title=Trident costs must come from MOD|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|date=30 July 2010|access-date=20 October 2010}} Secretary of State for Defence Liam Fox later wrote to David Cameron in another leaked letter saying that cuts in defence spending would seriously damage troops' morale.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8031385/Defence-cuts-Liam-Foxs-leaked-letter-in-full.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001094811/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8031385/Defence-cuts-Liam-Foxs-leaked-letter-in-full.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 October 2010|title=Defence cuts – Liam Fox's leaked letter in full|publisher=The Telegraph|date=28 September 2010|access-date=20 October 2010|location=London, UK}} Kenneth Clarke, the Secretary of State for Justice, said that he was "relishing" life back at the centre of government and said that the discussions on the spending review he had with Danny Alexander were "rather informal but quite intense and serious."{{cite news|first1=Toby|last1= Helm|first2=Anushka |last2=Asthana|author-link2=Anushka Asthana|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/oct/02/kenneth-clarke-interview-coalition-justice|title=Ken Clarke interview|work=The Guardian|date=2 October 2010|access-date=20 October 2010|location=London, UK}}

On 19 October 2010, the day before the spending review was announced in the House of Commons, Alexander was photographed reading a memo which showed that as a result of the cuts the government would be announcing up to 490,000 public service jobs could be lost. The figure contained within confidential briefing papers came from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/8074669/Danny-Alexander-reveals-500000-job-cuts-in-document-gaffe.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021071346/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/liberaldemocrats/8074669/Danny-Alexander-reveals-500000-job-cuts-in-document-gaffe.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 October 2010|title=Alexander reveals extent of cuts in document gaffe|publisher=The Telegraph|date=19 October 2010|access-date=1 February 2011|location=London, UK|first1=Robert|last1=Winnett|first2=Andrew|last2=Porter}}

On 20 October 2010, the chancellor George Osborne announced the findings of the review which included the claim from the OBR. Other key points from the review included an average 19% cut in departmental budgets, the desire to eliminate the structural deficit by 2015, £7bn extra in cuts to welfare spending and a move for the retirement age to be increased to 66 for both men and women by 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11569160|title=BBC News | key points of the spending review at a glance|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|date=21 October 2010|access-date=1 February 2011}} In a letter to Liberal Democrat members Alexander defended the cuts by saying "When we came into office, we inherited an economy that was on the brink. With the largest budget deficit in Europe and no plan for tackling it, Britain faced huge economic risks. These could only be dealt with by a clear plan to deal rapidly with the worst financial position this country has faced for generations."

Despite the scale of the cuts announced Alexander, in his letter, went on to claim that the burden had been spread fairly by ensuring that key public services relied on by the most vulnerable in society had been protected. He emphasised the announcement of the 'fairness premium' designed to help the poorest children and noted that key transport projects had been given the go ahead as well as the announcement of a green investment bank.{{cite web|url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/danny-alexander-on-the-spending-review-we-have-done-the-right-thing-21715.html|title=Liberal Democrat Voice | Letter to members – we have done the right thing|publisher=Libdemvoice.org|date=21 October 2010|access-date=1 February 2011|archive-date=29 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029173039/http://www.libdemvoice.org/danny-alexander-on-the-spending-review-we-have-done-the-right-thing-21715.html|url-status=dead}}

It was reported in the Independent in December 2011 that Danny Alexander had been involved in meetings{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/revealed-bankers-secret-meetings-with-ministers-6277778.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first=Ben | last=Chu | date=16 December 2011 | title=Revealed: bankers' secret meetings with ministers}} with bankers lobbying to avoid proposals in the Vickers Report{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8441446/Vickers-banking-report-not-enough-to-reduce-risks-to-us-all-in-global-banking.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first1=Peter | last1=Boone | first2=Simon | last2=Johnson | title=Vickers' banking report not enough to reduce risks to us all in global banking | date=11 April 2011}} that were intended to reduce risks in the banking industry. The talks were alleged to be secret, but were obtained via a Freedom of Information request.

Alexander caused controversy after giving a speech to a group of businessmen that a £10 billion windfall tax on North Sea oil revenue in the 2011 budget was his idea.{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Alexander-urged-to-resign-after.6742708.jp|location=Edinburgh|work=The Scotsman|first=David|last=Maddox|title=Alexander urged to resign after boasting oil tax grab was his idea|date=30 March 2011}} The move has been estimated to cost up to 40,000 jobs.{{Cite web|last=Davidson|first=Ross|date=March 25, 2011|title='Hypocritical chancellor could cost North Sea 40,000 jobs'|url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2195521?UserKey=|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531150202/http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2195521?UserKey=|archive-date=May 31, 2012|access-date=May 29, 2021|website=www.pressandjournal.co.uk}}

On 22 September 2012, Danny Alexander was appointed by Nick Clegg to review alternatives to like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear missile system, after Minister of State for the Armed Forces Nick Harvey left the government in David Cameron's government reshuffle.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19688430|work=BBC News|title=Lib Dem's Danny Alexander to lead Trident nuclear review|date=22 September 2012}}

In January 2015, Nick Clegg was accused of a "desperate ploy" to save Alexander's seat from the SNP by offering the possibility of completing a city deal for Inverness just ahead of the 2015 general election. Highland council had been lobbying for a deal worth up to £300 million to improve tourist and sports facilities.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/general-election-2015/11375361/Nick-Clegg-accused-of-300-million-ploy-to-save-Danny-Alexander.html|title=Nick Clegg accused of £300 million 'ploy' to save Danny Alexander|author=Simon Johnson|work=Daily Telegraph|date=29 January 2015|access-date=29 January 2015}}

The day after approving the last budget of the Coalition as set out by George Osborne, Alexander took the unprecedented step of issuing an alternative fiscal plan for the next Parliament based on Liberal Democrat policy.{{cite news|last1=Wintour|first1=Patrick|title=The budget yellow box: Lib Dems lay out alternative fiscal plan in Commons|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/19/budget-yellow-box-lib-dems-alternative-commons-danny-alexander|access-date=25 March 2015|publisher=Guardian|date=19 March 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Dathan|first1=Matt|title=Budget 2015: Even Lib Dems didn't care about Danny Alexander's alternative 'Yellow Budget'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/budget-2015-even-lib-dem-mps-didnt-care-about-danny-alexanders-alternative-yellow-budget-10120623.html|access-date=25 March 2015|publisher=Independent|date=19 March 2015}} In a sparsely attended Commons session Alexander announced plans to borrow £70 billion less than Labour and cut £50 billion less than the Conservatives in the next parliament. He was barracked by Labour MPs throughout, who repeatedly alluded to the Red Book containing the official budget unveiled the day before.

In the 2015 general election, with 31.3% of the vote, Alexander lost his seat to the Scottish National Party's Drew Hendry, who received 50.1% of the votes cast. He was offered a position in the House of Lords but declined.{{cite news |last1=Wintour |first1=Patrick |title=Vince Cable among four senior Lib Dems to turn down Lords offer from Clegg |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/15/vince-cable-four-senior-lib-dems-lords-nick-clegg-peerage-politics |access-date=22 July 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=15 May 2015 |language=en}} He later became vice president for policy and strategy at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.[https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/governance/senior-management/index.html "AIIB Senior Management"], Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, 23 November 2016{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=George |date=2016-02-05 |title=Danny Alexander: I am right man for AIIB |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7f67a0be-cc15-11e5-be0b-b7ece4e953a0 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502183312/https://www.ft.com/content/7f67a0be-cc15-11e5-be0b-b7ece4e953a0 |archive-date=2 May 2017 |website=Financial Times}}

Alexander married Rebecca Hoar in July 2005 in Chippenham. They have two children.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

In October 2010, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Harriet Harman mentioned Alexander during her speech at the Labour Party's Scottish Conference, referring to his red hair. She said, "Now, many of us in the Labour Party are conservationists and we all love the red squirrel. But there is one ginger rodent which we never want to see again in the Highlands – Danny Alexander." The speech generated controversial media attention and Alexander responded stating he was "proud" of his hair colour. Harman later apologised, admitting her conduct was "wrong".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/8098703/Harriet-Harman-rebuked-for-calling-minister-a-ginger-rodent.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101041224/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/8098703/Harriet-Harman-rebuked-for-calling-minister-a-ginger-rodent.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2010 | location=London, UK|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Melissa|last=Kite|title=Harriet Harman rebuked for calling minister 'a ginger rodent'|date=30 October 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/harman-apologises-over-alexander-ginger-rodent-jibe-1.1064927|title=Harman apologises over Alexander 'ginger rodent' jibe|work=Herald Scotland}}

In November 2012 the Cairngorm Brewery rebranded their beer called "Cairngorm Gold" as "Ginger Rodent" with Alexander's agreement and cooperation. This same beer is also exported to Australia where it is called "Sheepshaggers Gold".{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} The brewery is located in his former constituency.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-20272937|title=Danny Alexander launches Ginger Rodent beer|date=9 November 2012|work=BBC News|access-date=11 February 2016}}

Alexander has been nicknamed "Beaker" due to his resemblance to The Muppet Show character.{{Cite news |title=Danny Alexander must remain canny under the City's fierce glare |first=Chris |last=Blackhurst |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=2 June 2010 |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/markets/article-23840509-danny-alexander-must-remain-canny-under-the-citys-fierce-glare.do |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608053645/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/markets/article-23840509-danny-alexander-must-remain-canny-under-the-citys-fierce-glare.do |archive-date=8 June 2010 |df=dmy }}{{Cite news|title=Danny Alexander: Somewhere in the middle, and out in front|first=Matt|last=Chorley|newspaper=The Independent|date=18 September 2011|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/danny-alexander-somewhere-in-the-middle-and-out-in-front-2356582.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926071026/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/danny-alexander-somewhere-in-the-middle-and-out-in-front-2356582.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 September 2011 }}

Alexander is a self described heavy metal fan.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11087414/Danny-Alexander-Scottish-independence-would-be-a-nightmare-for-five-million-Scots.html|title=Danny Alexander: 'Scottish independence would be a nightmare for five million Scots'|last1=Ewing|first1=Sarah|date=12 September 2014|website=telegraph.co.uk|access-date=4 April 2015}}

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{Cite book|last=Laws |first=David |title=22 Days in May|year=2010|publisher=Biteback|isbn=978-1849540803}}

{{Commons category|Danny Alexander}}

• [https://www.gov.uk/government/people/danny-alexander Profile] at HM Government
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060604070424/http://www.highlandlibdems.org.uk/biographies/2/index.phtml Danny Alexander MP] Highland Liberal Democrats profile
• {{UK MP links|parliament=danny-alexander/1535|hansard=mr-danny-alexander|hansardcurr=4736|guardian=9003/danny-alexander|publicwhip=Danny_Alexander|theywork=danny_alexander|record=Danny-Alexander/Inverness-Nairn-Badenoch-and-Strathspey-/1072|bbc=32109.stm|journalisted= danny-alexander}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100719112127/http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/profile/danny-alexander Danny Alexander Profile] at New Statesman Your Democracy
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8eJp4YkXAg Speech at LibDem 2008 conference (on YouTube)]

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey|years=2005–2015}}

{{s-aft|after=Drew Hendry}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Jim Murphy}}

{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of State for Scotland|years=2010}}

{{s-aft|after=Michael Moore}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|before=David Laws}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chief Secretary to the Treasury|years=2010–2015}}

{{s-aft|after=Greg Hands}}

{{s-end}}

{{Secretaries of State for Scotland}}

{{Chief Secretaries to the Treasury}}

{{Cabinet of David Cameron}}

{{First Cameron Cabinet}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Danny}}

Category:1972 births

Category:Alumni of St Anne's College, Oxford

Category:Knights Bachelor

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Category:People from Badenoch and Strathspey

Category:Politicians from Edinburgh

Category:People from Fort William, Highland

Category:Politics of Highland (council area)

Category:Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs

Category:Secretaries of State for Scotland

Category:UK MPs 2005–2010

Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Highland constituencies

Category:Chief Secretaries to the Treasury