Trade unionist star John Park and Iain Gray's campaign backer Richard Baker were the big victors in yesterday's announcement of the new Labour shadow cabinet.

Mr Park, the new shadow minister for economy and skills, was the stand-out promotion, given the surprising advancement of his post to cabinet level.

The Fife MSP is a rising star of Scottish Labour and is seen as a solid member of the new team announced yesterday by Mr Gray. The other key advance is Richard Baker, the new shadow justice secretary.

Mr Baker said he was delighted to step into the justice job, although rival parties were critical of his arrival in the post, particularly given his role in the Gray leadership campaign, which was seen as giving him a role.

As predicted in The Herald yesterday, Andy Kerr is the new shadow finance secretary, while the health portfolio goes to Cathy Jamieson.

Iain Gray said: "I am delighted with the team I have put together and that they have all accepted the challenge. We will continue to hold the SNP administration to account for its failing in serving the Scottish people."

Mr Gray's new line-up amounted to a brutal put-down of the previous team of Ms Alexander. There was no place for Jackie Baillie, and Pauline McNeill was moved from the key justice post to the European affairs and culture post to make way for Mr Baker at justice.

Mr Gray said of the challenge of facing the SNP: "Apart from their ill-thought- out and widely criticised flagship policies on local income tax and a Scottish Futures Trust, which will have serious consequences for hard-working Scottish families, they are a government that is failing the poorest and most vulnerable, with cuts in local services across Scotland.

"I am especially pleased that Cathy Jamieson and Andy Kerr have chosen to serve in the shadow cabinet after the contribution they made to the leadership election campaign that helped Labour get back in touch with our party roots.

"Margaret Curran will take on responsibility for developing policy and our programme, looking ahead to 2011."

Mr Gray insisted he wanted to "close the book" on the party's manifesto for last year's election and develop a fresh policy programme.

"This shadow cabinet is perfectly placed to do that."

Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart becomes the party's chief whip, replacing Mr Baker, while Michael McMahon stays on as parliamentary business manager.

The new Labour front-bench team came under fire from SNP chief whip Brian Adam. "This is a Gray team not an A team' for Labour," he said. "While Iain Gray shuffles the deckchairs in Scotland the new Labour ship is sinking."