By Steve Bargeton, political editor

WENDY ALEXANDER, the woman touted by many as the next Scottish Labour leader, yesterday returned to her party’s front benches.

In a reshuffled opposition team to shadow the SNP ministerial line-up announced by leader Jack McConnell she becomes shadow finance minister.

This means Ms Alexander, who quit Mr McConnell’s cabinet in 2002, will take on John Swinney, the most powerful minister in the nationalist cabinet after Alex Salmond.

There is no front bench place for former finance minister Tom McCabe, who is Labour’s nominee for a place on the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

Iain Gray, the former minister who lost his Holyrood seat in 2003 but returned as MSP for East Lothian at the election, becomes shadow enterprise minister.

Former parliamentary business minister Margaret Curran is promoted to shadow justice minister, swapping posts with Cathy Jamieson.

Andy Kerr remains in the health post, and Hugh Henry remains in education.

But the main interest in the reshuffle is on Ms Alexander—the sister of Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander who is close to Prime Minister-elect Gordon Brown

Both she and Margaret Curran have been tipped as possible contenders to succeed Mr McConnell, but Labour has insisted there is no mood in the party for a change of leadership.

However, some observers believe Mr McConnell has promoted Ms Alexander into a key position to stop her launching a early challenge to his leadership.

Ms Alexander unexpectedly resigned as enterprise minister five years ago, after serving in various ministerial roles since 1999.

Unveiling his new team yesterday Mr McConnell said, “While we disagree strongly with Alex Salmond’s decision to create a guddle of cabinet responsibilities, Labour will form an effective opposition by shadowing each minister directly.

“I am particularly pleased to welcome Wendy Alexander and Iain Gray back to frontline politics, and to promote Pauline McNeill, Ken MacIntosh and Paul Martin who, will use their parliamentary skills to very good effect in holding the new government accountable.

The full list of Labour’s shadow ministerial appointments:

Leader of the opposition—Jack McConnell.

Shadow minister for parliamentary business—Cathy Jamieson.

Shadow minister for Europe, external affairs and culture—Patricia Ferguson.

Shadow cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth—Wendy Alexander.

Shadow minister for enterprise, energy and tourism—Iain Gray.

Shadow minister for transport, infrastructure and climate change —Des McNulty.

Shadow cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning—Hugh Henry.

Shadow minister for schools and skills—Ken Mac- Intosh.

Shadow minister for children and early years—Pauline McNeill.

Shadow cabinet secretary for health and well-being—Andy Kerr.

Shadow minister for public health—Lewis Macdonald.

Shadow minister for communities and sport—Johann Lamont.

Shadow cabinet secretary for justice—Margaret Curran.

Shadow minister for community safety—Paul Martin.

Shadow cabinet secretary for rural affairs and the environment—Rhona Brankin.

Shadow minister for environment —Sarah Boyack.

Other appointments:

Deputy business manager and chief whip—Michael McMahon.

Whips—Karen Gillon and David Stewart.

Parliamentary private secretary to the leader—Richard Baker.