Magnus Gardham, currently political editor at the Herald Scotland newspaper, will join the Scotland Office as chief media officer next month.

Before working on the Herald, Gardham worked for the Daily Record, Daily Mail and the Edinburgh Evening News.

Kirsty Welch, who took up her post in April, has also joined the Scotland Office as its head of news. Welch was previously chief press officer at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and, before that, was acting chief press officer at the Department for Work and Pensions, both in Scotland and in London.

The news comes in the wake of Friday’s historic referendum result in which 52 per cent of the public voted to leave the EU. But in Scotland, where a majority voted to remain in the EU, the result has sparked calls for a second Scottish Independence referendum, after SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon vowed that the country would resist being dragged out of the EU against its will.

Flavia Paterson, director of comms at the Scotland Office, said: "The Scotland Office is at the forefront of communications for the UK Government in Scotland and strengthening the communications team has been one of my top priorities. Both Kirsty and Magnus bring a wealth of experience from their different backgrounds in government and political communications."

Earlier this week, it was announced that Circle Health’s head of comms, Gordon Hector had been appointed to run the research team for Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives.