Jeremy Corbyn was facing criticism last night after he appointed a Scottish peer who was jailed for deliberately starting a fire to his front bench.
The new Labour leader revealed Lord Mike Watson of Invergowrie would be an education spokesman in the House of Lords.
In 2005, the peer pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful fire-raising at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
He admitted setting fire to a curtain at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards at Edinburgh’s 17th-century Prestonfield House Hotel.
The SNP described the appointment as “bizarre” and claimed it was made because the veteran left-winger had so few people to ask.
A spokesman for the Nationalists said: “It reflects how Jeremy Corbyn seems to be scrambling around for people to work with, which in turn is further proof of the deep divisions within the Labour party.”
But Labour denied that was the case and said Lord Watson, whose actions were caught on a security camera, had served his time and been rehabilitated.
A party spokesman said: “Lord Watson was readmitted to the Labour Party in 2012 and following his rehabilitation it is right he should be allowed to play a full part in public life.”
The peer, a former MP and MSP, previously served in the Scottish Executive as minister for tourism, culture and sport under first minister Jack McConnell.
He has reportedly already occasionally spoken on the front bench during the passage of the Charities Bill.
After the incident, he resigned from the Scottish Parliament and as director of Dundee United Football Club.
As a life peer, the rules meant he could not resign from the House of Lords so he kept his spot in the upper chamber.
Other appointments on Mr Corbyn’s finalised list include Lord Collins, the peer behind the Labour leadership election reforms that gave thousands of supporters a vote for £3.
He will serve as a party whip and a member of the international development team.
Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said: “Labour’s frontbench is inclusive across the party. It also includes MPs from the recent intake and is a clear commitment to the future of the party.”