Des has been the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun since 1997, following Willie McKelvie and the former Secretary of State for Scotland, Willie Ross.
An Ayrshireman by birth, Des attended St Michael’s Academy, Kilwinning before graduating as a lawyer from Glasgow University. He joined Ross Harper and Murphy in Kilmarnock before leaving to set up his own firm, McCluskey Browne, with well known local solicitor, Ian McCluskey. In 1993, he was called to the Bar, leaving the firm to become one of the most respected child law advocates in Scotland.

After being elected to Parliament in 1997, Des made his name with strong speeches particularly on Human Rights, Northern Ireland and Social Security, and was asked by Donald Dewar to become his Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) in 1998. He helped Donald pilot the Scotland Act through Parliament. After service on the Public Administration Select Committee, Northern Ireland Minister, Adam Ingram asked him to become his PPS in 2000. He was then elected to the first Joint Committee on Human Rights as the only Scottish Labour backbencher, a position he held until the election of 2001.

Having been returned to Westminster in 2001, Des was asked by the Prime Minister to become the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. He became responsible for a number of issues, including victims and cross border issues. Following the suspension of Stormont, he also took up responsibility for the Health Service, and Social Security. In June 2003, after two years in the Northern Ireland Office, the Prime Minister promoted him to the post of Minister for Work at the Department for Work and Pensions. In this role, he was responsible for Jobcentre Plus, the New Deal and Health and Safety among other issues. However, after only nine months in that post, the Prime Minister called on him to take on the sensitive and key role of Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in the Home Office.

Des was again returned as the Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock and Loudoun in May 2005 and in the reshuffle which followed the election was promoted to the cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Together with other duties, in this new role, Des has responsibility for public expenditure. He was also appointed to the Privy Council, one of the oldest parts of Government.

In May 2006 Des became Secretary of State for Defence.   He is the Cabinet Minister charged with making and executing Defence policy, and with providing the means by which it is executed, the Armed Forces.

Des was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in June 2007. He holds this post jointly with the post of Secretary of State for Defence. As Secretary of State for Scotland he represents the interests of Scotland in Cabinet, particularly in those matters reserved to the Government by the Scotland Act.

Des says:

“Welcome to my website. This is yet another way of keeping in touch with my constituents, and of helping them contact me. I have always ensured that the interests of the people of Kilmarnock and Loudoun are at the centre of all my work, and this website will make that connection even stronger. Please find out more about my work through this."