McConnell is off to Malawi

1.02.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 16th Aug 2007

Malawi flag

Former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell is off to Malawi, he will become the British High Commissioner in 2009 and will take up an unpaid post in Malawi and Rwanda with an aid foundation.

He has, rather obviously, resigned as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party. Wendy Alexander (sister of Cabinet Minister Douglas Alexander) is widely tipped to take over.

I hadn't realised McConnell had an interest in Malawi but after reading the papers he has quite a history. I wish him luck and hope that he can continue to raise the profile of Malawi within the UK and ensure we as country do our best to help in Malawi.

Malawi has suffered terribly over the years with famine and failed crops. Harvest Help, a charity, in Shropshire does a lot of good work in Malawi but the country is often forgotten when the news talks of Africa because of its size.