He served as parliamentary aide to the Lord Advocate from 2001 to 2007 and to the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice from 2007 to 2009. Following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, he was appointed as Scottish Labour's spokesperson for community safety, and as parliamentary business manager on 28 October 2009.
From 2001 to 2007, he worked as a parliamentary assistant to the Lord Advocate, and from 2007 to 2009, as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice. Following the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, he became Scottish Labour's spokesperson for community safety and parliamentary business manager on October 28, 2009.