Jack McConnell
Encyclopedia
Jack Wilson McConnell, Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale (born 30 June 1960) is a British
Labour
life peer
in the House of Lords
. He was third First Minister of Scotland
from 2001 to 2007
, making him the longest serving First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Motherwell and Wishaw
from 1999
to 2011.
McConnell became an MSP in the first elections to the Scottish Parliament
in 1999
, later holding the positions of Finance Minister, and Education Minister. He became First Minister upon the resignation of his predecessor Henry McLeish
, and led the Scottish Labour Party
to its second election victory in the 2003 election
. Lord McConnell is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
.
farm near Lamlash
on the Isle of Arran
. He attended Arran High School and later went on to study at the University of Stirling
, graduating with a BSc
Dip Ed
. He was also President of the Students' Association
. After graduating in 1983 he began work as a mathematics
teacher at Lornshill Academy
in Alloa
, Clackmannanshire
(a position he retained throughout his subsequent council service).
McConnell's political career began with his election to Stirling District Council. McConnell served on the council for eight years, while retaining his job at Lornshill. He served as Treasurer
from 1988 until 1992, and was the Leader of the council from 1990 to 1992. McConnell became the General Secretary
of the Scottish Labour Party
in 1992. His major breakthrough was in his handling of the 1997 General Election
success, where Labour attained a large overall majority victory over the Conservatives
. Together the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party
eliminated every seat the Conservatives held in Scotland. In 1998, he served as a member of the Scottish Constitutional Convention
where he pioneered the Scottish devolution referendum success, establishing the Scottish Parliament
.
in the first Scottish Parliament elections
in 1999. He was appointed Minister for Finance
in the new Scottish Executive
by then-First Minister Donald Dewar
. One of his first moves as Finance Minister was to establish the budgeting procedures for the new Scottish Executive, including publishing a consultation document asking the public and MSPs how the budget should be spent. His department also passed the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 through Parliament which set out the finance and auditing procedures of the Executive.
McLeish appointed him Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs. Some analysts considered this post to be a "poisoned chalice", as he would be required to resolve both a crisis in the Scottish Qualifications Authority
over exam marking, and pay disputes with the teaching unions.
In August 2000, prior to Jack McConnell’s appointment as Education Minister, Scotland's national exams system was plunged into chaos when 5,000 students get the wrong exam results. Immediately following his appointment as Education Minister Jack McConnell appointed a new board for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and introduced significant changes to the way the agency worked. The marking of the 2001 exams was a success. He introduced a new pay and conditions package for Scottish teachers and the largest ever investment in schools buildings. He also established the Scottish government’s first external relations and European strategy.
, regarding the sub-let of his constituency
office. In the resulting search for a leader, McConnell was seen by many political analysts as the likely successor. McConnell quickly emerged as the only candidate
and was elected First Minister by the Parliament on 22 November 2001 and formally appointed into office by Queen Elizabeth II
on 26 November 2001.
, Sarah Boyack
, Tom McCabe
and Jackie Baillie
, and demoting Susan Deacon
(she later resigned rather than accept the new post offered to her).
In February 2002, Scotland joined forces with the Republic of Ireland
in a bid to host the 2008 European Football Championship. McConnell was initially unconvinced that it was worth spending around £100 million on the tournament, however he later put his support behind the joint bid with the Irish. Although the bid lost out to Austria/Switzerland, McConnell later supported other attempts to land major supporting events including London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games
and Glasgow
's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games
. In December 2002, McConnell launched his government's campaign against sectarianism.
with the Nationalists winning 47 seats to Labour's 46, leaving the SNP short of an overall majority in the Parliament. The SNP's Alex Salmond
declared that his party had the right to form an executive due to their victory in the popular vote. McConnell strongly disagreed with this statement, arguing that "There is no moral authority to pursue separation and moral authority in the parliament will only come through parties working together in the majority."
and enter the House of Lords
as a working peer on behalf of the Labour Party. On 28 June 2010, he was created a life peer
as Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale, of the Isle of Arran in Ayrshire and Arran, and was introduced
in the House of Lords
the same day.
when it became vacant in 2009, having taken an interest in the development of the country during his time as First Minister. In August 2007, he was appointed an adviser to the Clinton
Hunter Development Initiative in Malawi
and Rwanda
and in October 2008 was appointed by Gordon Brown
as the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, a position which ceased following the 2010 UK general election. He is a UK Ambassador for Action for Children; a Fellow of the 48 Group Club, which promotes relationships between the UK and China and an Ambassador for Pump Aid
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. He was third First Minister of Scotland
First Minister of Scotland
The First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy...
from 2001 to 2007
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
, making him the longest serving First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament
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:...
for Motherwell and Wishaw
Motherwell and Wishaw (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Motherwell and Wishaw is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
from 1999
Scottish Parliament election, 1999
The Scottish Parliament election, 1999 was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with voting taking place on 6 May 1999 to elect 129 members...
to 2011.
McConnell became an MSP in the first elections to 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...
in 1999
Scottish Parliament election, 1999
The Scottish Parliament election, 1999 was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with voting taking place on 6 May 1999 to elect 129 members...
, later holding the positions of Finance Minister, and Education Minister. He became First Minister upon the resignation of his predecessor Henry McLeish
Henry McLeish
Henry Baird McLeish is a Scottish Labour Party politician, author and academic. Formerly a professional association football player, McLeish was the Member of Parliament for Central Fife from 1987 to 2001 and the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Fife from 1999 to 2003, during which...
, and led the Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
to its second election victory in the 2003 election
Scottish Parliament election, 2003
The Scottish Parliament election, 2003, was the second general election of the Scottish Parliament. It was held on 1 May 2003 and it brought no change in terms of control of the Scottish Executive...
. Lord McConnell is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy is an international, not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation based in Berlin. Founded in 1999 by Mark Donfried, its activities focus on promoting and developing the field of cultural diplomacy by conducting research, initiatives and programs, holding...
.
Education and early career
McConnell was born in Irvine and raised on a sheepDomestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
farm near Lamlash
Lamlash
Lamlash is the largest village by population on the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It lies 4 miles to the south of ferry port Brodick, in a sheltered bay on the island's east coast, facing Holy Isle. Lamlash is the seat of Arran's local government offices and police...
on the Isle of Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
. He attended Arran High School and later went on to study at the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
, graduating with a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
Dip Ed
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
. He was also President of the Students' Association
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
. After graduating in 1983 he began work as a mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
teacher at Lornshill Academy
Lornshill Academy
Lornshill Academy is a six year comprehensive school situated in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. Approximately 1100 pupils are enrolled with the school. Lornshill currently employs approximately 83 teachers and 8 classroom assistants...
in Alloa
Alloa
Alloa is a town and former burgh in Clackmannanshire, set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on on the north bank of the Firth of Forth close to the foot of the Ochil Hills, east of Stirling and north of Falkirk....
, Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire, often abbreviated to Clacks is a local government council area in Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife.As Scotland's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed 'The Wee County'....
(a position he retained throughout his subsequent council service).
McConnell's political career began with his election to Stirling District Council. McConnell served on the council for eight years, while retaining his job at Lornshill. He served as Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
from 1988 until 1992, and was the Leader of the council from 1990 to 1992. McConnell became the General Secretary
General secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
of the Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
in 1992. His major breakthrough was in his handling of the 1997 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
success, where Labour attained a large overall majority victory over the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. Together the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
eliminated every seat the Conservatives held in Scotland. In 1998, he served as a member of the Scottish Constitutional Convention
Scottish Constitutional Convention
The Scottish Constitutional Convention was an association of Scottish political parties, churches and other civic groups, that developed a framework for a Scottish devolution. It is credited as having paved the way for the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.The Convention was...
where he pioneered the Scottish devolution referendum success, establishing 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...
.
Finance Minister
McConnell was elected an MSPMember 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:...
in the first Scottish Parliament elections
Scottish Parliament election, 1999
The Scottish Parliament election, 1999 was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with voting taking place on 6 May 1999 to elect 129 members...
in 1999. He was appointed Minister for Finance
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, commonly referred to as the Finance Secretary, is a member of the Cabinet in the Scottish Government...
in the new Scottish Executive
Scottish Executive
The Scottish Government is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was established in 1999 as the Scottish Executive, from the extant Scottish Office, and the term Scottish Executive remains its legal name under the Scotland Act 1998...
by then-First Minister Donald Dewar
Donald Dewar
Donald Campbell Dewar was a British politician who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament in Scotland from 1966-1970, and then again from 1978 until his death in 2000. He served in Tony Blair's cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1997-1999 and was instrumental in the creation...
. One of his first moves as Finance Minister was to establish the budgeting procedures for the new Scottish Executive, including publishing a consultation document asking the public and MSPs how the budget should be spent. His department also passed the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 through Parliament which set out the finance and auditing procedures of the Executive.
Education, Europe and External Affairs
On 11 October 2000 Donald Dewar died of a brain haemorrhage. After the Labour leadership intervened to stop the Enterprise Minister Henry McLeish being appointed Dewar’s successor without a vote, Jack McConnell decided to stand in the leadership contest. The election was held on Saturday 21 October, only 72 hours after Dewar’s funeral and the surprise result saw Jack McConnell defeated with 36 votes to Henry McLeish’s 44 votes.McLeish appointed him Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs. Some analysts considered this post to be a "poisoned chalice", as he would be required to resolve both a crisis in the Scottish Qualifications Authority
Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...
over exam marking, and pay disputes with the teaching unions.
In August 2000, prior to Jack McConnell’s appointment as Education Minister, Scotland's national exams system was plunged into chaos when 5,000 students get the wrong exam results. Immediately following his appointment as Education Minister Jack McConnell appointed a new board for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and introduced significant changes to the way the agency worked. The marking of the 2001 exams was a success. He introduced a new pay and conditions package for Scottish teachers and the largest ever investment in schools buildings. He also established the Scottish government’s first external relations and European strategy.
Election for First Minister
Henry McLeish resigned as First Minister on 8 November 2001 over the Officegate ScandalOfficegate
The Officegate scandal was a controversy surrounding then Scottish First Minister Henry McLeish in 2001. It resulted in his resignation from the post....
, regarding the sub-let of his constituency
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions
Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions were first used in 1999, in the first general election of the Scottish Parliament , created by the Scotland Act 1998....
office. In the resulting search for a leader, McConnell was seen by many political analysts as the likely successor. McConnell quickly emerged as the only candidate
and was elected First Minister by the Parliament on 22 November 2001 and formally appointed into office by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on 26 November 2001.
First term
A few days after his appointment, on 27 November 2001, McConnell carried out a reshuffle of the Cabinet, axing four Ministers: Angus MacKayAngus MacKay (politician)
Angus MacKay is a Scottish Labour politician, and was Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh South constituency from 1999 to 2003....
, Sarah Boyack
Sarah Boyack
Sarah Boyack MSP is a Scottish Labour MSP for the Lothian region and formerly constituency MSP for Edinburgh Central in the Scottish Parliament....
, Tom McCabe
Tom McCabe
Thomas "Tom" McCabe is a Scottish Labour Party politician, a former Minister for Finance in the Scottish Executive, and was Member of the Scottish Parliament for Hamilton South until May 2011....
and Jackie Baillie
Jackie Baillie
Jacqueline Marie Baillie is a Scottish Labour Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Dumbarton constituency and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy.-Background:...
, and demoting Susan Deacon
Susan Deacon
Susan Deacon is a Scottish politician, academic, commentator and a former Scottish Cabinet Minister.She was Labour MSP for Edinburgh East & Musselburgh from 1999–2007 and served as Scotland’s first Cabinet Minister for Health and Community Care following the creation of the Scottish Parliament in...
(she later resigned rather than accept the new post offered to her).
In February 2002, Scotland joined forces with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
in a bid to host the 2008 European Football Championship. McConnell was initially unconvinced that it was worth spending around £100 million on the tournament, however he later put his support behind the joint bid with the Irish. Although the bid lost out to Austria/Switzerland, McConnell later supported other attempts to land major supporting events including London's successful bid for the 2012 Olympic Games
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
's bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
. In December 2002, McConnell launched his government's campaign against sectarianism.
Second term
McConnell was re-elected MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw at the Scottish Parliament elections. The Labour Party won 50 seats, the largest number, and formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrat Party which won 17 seats. On 15 May, McConnell was re-appointed First Minster of Scotland and on the same day the Scottish government published A Partnership for a Better Scotland which set out the government’s priorities for the four year term.Key achievements
- The Fresh Talent InitiativeFresh Talent InitiativeThe Fresh Talent Initiative is a Scottish Government policy framework to encourage people to settle in Scotland. The initiative was launched in February 2004 by then First Minister, Jack McConnell as a way of countering the 'biggest challenge facing Scotland' of its falling population.Since...
, launched in February 2004, to encourage economic migration to Scotland and help tackle the country’s declining and ageing population.
- Global campaign to promote Scotland as a place to live, work, study and visit was established on 1 July 2004
- Project Scotland a national volunteering scheme for young people was set up on 11 May 2004.
- Scotland became the first part of the UK to implement a ban on smoking in public places on 26 March 2006.
- Scotland and Malawi signed an historic Co-operation AgreementScotland Malawi PartnershipThe Scotland Malawi Partnership is a non-profit umbrella organisation that co-ordinates the activities of Scottish individuals and organisations with existing links to Malawi, and aims to foster further links between both countries. It is a charitable membership organisation, with around 300...
on 3 November 2005.
2007 election
The Scottish Parliament elections of 3 May 2007 saw McConnell re-elected as the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw with a majority of 5938 votes, representing 48% of the vote with a turnout of 50.3%. However the Labour Party was narrowly defeated by the SNPScottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
with the Nationalists winning 47 seats to Labour's 46, leaving the SNP short of an overall majority in the Parliament. The SNP's Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
declared that his party had the right to form an executive due to their victory in the popular vote. McConnell strongly disagreed with this statement, arguing that "There is no moral authority to pursue separation and moral authority in the parliament will only come through parties working together in the majority."
After First Minister
On 15 August 2007, McConnell announced his intention to resign as Labour leader in the Scottish Parliament. He continued to sit as the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw until the 2011 election. On 28 May 2010 it was announced that McConnell would be made a life peerLife peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
and enter the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
as a working peer on behalf of the Labour Party. On 28 June 2010, he was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale, of the Isle of Arran in Ayrshire and Arran, and was introduced
Introduction (House of Lords)
Introduction is a ceremony in the House of Lords whereby new members are "introduced" to the existing membership. Introductions in the Lords are more elaborate than those in the House of Commons.-Origins:...
in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
the same day.
Other positions
McConnell was widely predicted to take the position of British High Commissioner to MalawiHeads of Missions from the United Kingdom
This is a list of current heads of United Kingdom Missions abroad. It is up to date as of 9 April 2008 to the High Commissioner to Cameroon.-Resident heads of missions:-Non-resident heads of missions:...
when it became vacant in 2009, having taken an interest in the development of the country during his time as First Minister. In August 2007, he was appointed an adviser to the Clinton
Clinton Foundation
The William J. Clinton Foundation is a foundation established by former President of the United States Bill Clinton with the stated mission to "strengthen the capacity of people throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence." The Foundation focuses on four critical areas:...
Hunter Development Initiative in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
and Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and in October 2008 was appointed by Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
as the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, a position which ceased following the 2010 UK general election. He is a UK Ambassador for Action for Children; a Fellow of the 48 Group Club, which promotes relationships between the UK and China and an Ambassador for Pump Aid
Pump Aid
Pump Aid is an international water and sanitation charity based in Africa and the UK. The charity establishes sustainable supplies of clean water and mechanisms to create safer sanitation, using innovative yet simple technologies that can be locally maintained. Pump Aid works to improve health and...
.
Personal life
He is married to Bridget McConnell, and has two adopted children from that marriage, Hannah and Mark. Bridget McConnell is Chief Executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow, the UK's largest and most comprehensive cultural and sports charitable company.See also
- Politics of ScotlandPolitics of ScotlandThe Politics of Scotland forms a distinctive part of the wider politics of Europe.Theoretically, the United Kingdom is de jure a "unitary state" with one sovereign parliament and government...
- List of Scottish Executive Ministerial Teams
- Bute HouseBute HouseBute House is the official residence of the First Minister of Scotland, who is the head of the Scottish Government, the country's devolved government established in 1999...
Biography
- Davidson, Lorraine. Lucky Jack: Scotland's First Minister (2005), Black and White Publishing.