Alex Neil (politician)
|
Alex Neil MSP |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights | |
|
In office 21 November 2014 – 18 May 2016 |
|
| First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing | |
|
In office 5 September 2012 – 21 November 2014 |
|
| First Minister | Alex Salmond |
| Preceded by | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Succeeded by | Shona Robison |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Airdrie and Shotts |
|
|
Assumed office 6 May 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Karen Whitefield |
| Majority | 2,001 (8.4%) |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland |
|
|
In office 6 May 1999 – 6 May 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | new parliament |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
22 August 1951 Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland |
| Political party |
Labour Party (1967-1976) Scottish Labour Party (1976–1985) Scottish National Party (1985–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Dundee |
| Occupation | Political researcher; Businessman; Economic consultant |
| Religion | Church of Scotland |
Alexander "Alex" Neil (born 22 August 1951) is a Scottish politician who is the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Airdrie and Shotts. He was Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights between 2014 and 2016.
Neil was born in Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine, the son of Alexander Neil snr, a coalminer, and Margaret Neil (née Gunning). He was brought up in Patna, Ayrshire, and became involved in Labour politics, joining the Labour Party in 1967, aged sixteen. He was educated at Ayr Academy, before attending the University of Dundee, where he studied Economics. He served as chairman of both the Scottish Organisation of Labour Students and later the UK-wide National Organisation of Labour Students.
After graduating with an MA (Hons) degree in 1974, Neil was appointed as the first-ever research officer for the Scottish Executive Committee of the Labour Party. In 1976, Neil, along with Jim Sillars and John Robertson, left the Labour Party to form the breakaway group, the Scottish Labour Party (SLP). Neil served as General Secretary of the SLP from 1976 to 1979. By 1979 the SLP had collapsed and Neil fell out of active politics until 1985 when he joined the Scottish National Party (SNP).
...
Wikipedia