Alison McInnes
Encyclopedia
Alison McInnes MSP
(born 17 July 1957) is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and Member
of the Scottish Parliament
for the North East Scotland Region
. She is the Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health and Justice in the Scottish Parliament.
and McLaren High School
, Callendar before studying at the University of Glasgow
.
McInnes has lived in Ellon, Aberdeenshire
with her husband for over 25 years. They have two grown-up children.
McInnes says that she takes a keen interest in the arts, "from literature through to the performing arts", and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
. In her spare time she also enjoys cooking and gardening.
McInnes has held positions including a non-executive director with Scottish Enterprise
and a role on the North Sea Commission
, chairing the body's Sustainable Development Group. She has also sat on the Area Board for Scottish National Heritage.
and was the Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson on these issues. In addition to formal parliamentary business, McInnes has been a member of Cross Party Groups on Climate Change, Oil and Gas, Visual Impairment, Epilepsy, Tibet and Human Rights, and Civil Liberties.
McInnes has actively campaigned for infrastructure improvements for the North East, including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
, Crossrail and a station at Kintore
, and the dualling of the Balmedie-Tipperty section of the A90
.
Alison McInnes has taken a leading role in the ongoing campaign for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils to receive a 'Fair Share' of local government funding. She is also supporting Grampian Police
and Grampian Fire and Rescue Service
in opposing the creation of a single police board and one fire and rescue board for Scotland.
In addition, Alison McInnes's political interests and campaigns include local health care provision, forestry and autism issues. On many of these issues, she has worked alongside community groups, charities and social enterprises, having been involved with voluntary work prior to becoming a councillor in 1992.
Alison McInnes stood in the new constituency of Aberdeenshire East in the 2011 Scottish Parliament Elections. She also headed the Scottish Liberal Democrat list for the North East Scotland region, and was duly re-elected in that role.
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
(born 17 July 1957) is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician, and Member
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
for the North East Scotland Region
North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
North East Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
. She is the Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health and Justice in the Scottish Parliament.
Background
Originally from Irvine, Ayrshire, McInnes attended Irvine Royal AcademyIrvine Royal Academy
Irvine Royal Academy is a six-year non-denominational secondary school in Kilwinning Road, Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland.-History:In 1572, King James VI provided funds to found the King's School of Irvine at Kirkgatehead...
and McLaren High School
McLaren High School
McLaren High School is a state comprehensive, non-denominational secondary school in central Scotland. It was founded in 1892 by Donald McLaren and is situated in the town of Callander. The school has a catchment area of about and contains approximately 700 pupils...
, Callendar before studying at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
McInnes has lived in Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon, Aberdeenshire
Ellon is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north of Aberdeen, lying on the River Ythan which has one of the few undeveloped river estuaries on the Eastern coast of Scotland. It is in the ancient region of Formartine...
with her husband for over 25 years. They have two grown-up children.
McInnes says that she takes a keen interest in the arts, "from literature through to the performing arts", and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
. In her spare time she also enjoys cooking and gardening.
Career
A Councillor for 15 years prior to entering Parliament, Alison McInnes was first elected to Gordon District Council in 1992. She went on to represent Ellon and District on Aberdeenshire Council between 1995 and 2007, becoming one of the most senior councillors in the region. During this time McInnes chaired the Council's Infrastructure Services Committee and NESTRANS (North East's Regional Transport Partnership.McInnes has held positions including a non-executive director with Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is a sponsored non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government which encourages economic development, enterprise, innovation and investment in business...
and a role on the North Sea Commission
North Sea Commission
The North Sea Commission is an international organization founded in 1989. It facilitates partnerships between regions connected with the North Sea and promotes the North Sea Basin as an economic entity within Europe....
, chairing the body's Sustainable Development Group. She has also sat on the Area Board for Scottish National Heritage.
Member of the Scottish Parliament
McInnes was a member of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee throughout the 2007-2011 Scottish ParliamentScottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
and was the Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson on these issues. In addition to formal parliamentary business, McInnes has been a member of Cross Party Groups on Climate Change, Oil and Gas, Visual Impairment, Epilepsy, Tibet and Human Rights, and Civil Liberties.
McInnes has actively campaigned for infrastructure improvements for the North East, including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is a major infrastructure development proposed to take place on the outskirts of Aberdeen, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. First announced in January 2003, the construction has not yet begun...
, Crossrail and a station at Kintore
Kintore
Kintore may refer to:* Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland* Kintore, Northern Territory, Australia* Kintore, Western Australia, Australia* Kintore, Ontario, Canada* Lower Kintore, New Brunswick, Canada* Upper Kintore, New Brunswick, Canada...
, and the dualling of the Balmedie-Tipperty section of the A90
A90 road
The A90 road is a major north to south road in eastern Scotland, running from Edinburgh to Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire.From Edinburgh, it travels west and over the Forth Road Bridge, before turning into the M90 motorway. At Perth, the M90 again becomes the A90, now running north east to Dundee...
.
Alison McInnes has taken a leading role in the ongoing campaign for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils to receive a 'Fair Share' of local government funding. She is also supporting Grampian Police
Grampian Police
Grampian Police is the territorial police force of the northeast region of Scotland, covering the council areas of Aberdeenshire, the City of Aberdeen, and Moray . The Force area also covers some of the North Sea, giving Grampian Police the responsibility of policing the oil and gas platforms of...
and Grampian Fire and Rescue Service
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service
Grampian Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Grampian, Scotland. The service provides emergency cover for residential areas, as well as providing it for a local Industrial harbour, oil and gas terminals and a commonly used heliport.-FRS area:Grampian...
in opposing the creation of a single police board and one fire and rescue board for Scotland.
In addition, Alison McInnes's political interests and campaigns include local health care provision, forestry and autism issues. On many of these issues, she has worked alongside community groups, charities and social enterprises, having been involved with voluntary work prior to becoming a councillor in 1992.
Alison McInnes stood in the new constituency of Aberdeenshire East in the 2011 Scottish Parliament Elections. She also headed the Scottish Liberal Democrat list for the North East Scotland region, and was duly re-elected in that role.
Career timeline
- 1992-1995: Councillor, Gordon District Council
- 1995-2007: Councillor, Aberdeenshire Council
- Chair, Infrastructure Services Committee
- Chair, Nestrans - the Regional Transport Partnership for North East Scotland
- 2007-present: Member of the Scottish ParliamentMember of the Scottish ParliamentMember of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
for North East Scotland - 2007-2011: Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Transport, Local Government and Climate Change
- 2011-present: Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Health and Justice
External links
- Alison McInnes MSP official biography at the Scottish Parliament website
- Alison McInnes MSP profile at the site of Scottish Liberal Democrats
- BBC profile