Mark McDonald (politician)
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Mark McDonald MSP |
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| Minister for Childcare and Early Years | |
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Assumed office 18 May 2016 |
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| First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Preceded by | Aileen Campbell |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen Donside |
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Assumed office 20 June 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Brian Adam |
| Majority | 11,630 |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland |
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In office 5 May 2011 – 14 May 2013 |
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| Succeeded by | Christian Allard |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
7 June 1980 Inverurie, Aberdeenshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Louise |
| Children | 1 son, 1 daughter |
| Residence | Dyce, Aberdeen |
| Alma mater |
University of Dundee University of Aberdeen |
| Committees | (Scottish Parliament) |
Mark McDonald (born 7 June 1980) is a Scottish politician who is the Minister for Childcare and Early Years in the Scottish Parliament. He is the Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Aberdeen Donside constituency. He previously represented the North East Scotland region between 5 May 2011 and 14 May 2013.
McDonald was educated at Dyce Primary School and Dyce Academy. He gained an MA in Politics from the University of Dundee (2002) and an MLitt in Strategic Studies from the University of Aberdeen (2003). From 2003 to 2011 he worked as a Parliamentary Assistant to MSPs Richard Lochhead, Maureen Watt, and Nigel Don. He was elected to Aberdeen City Council in 2007 at the age of 26 representing the Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone ward having unsuccessfully contested a 2004 Local Authority by-election in the city. McDonald stood as SNP candidate for Aberdeen South in the 2010 UK general election coming fourth in the poll.
McDonald was elected to the Scottish Parliament in the 2011 election from the North East Scotland regional list with the SNP taking 52.71% of the vote. As the Scottish National Party had already won all ten constituency seats in the region, it came as a surprise to McDonald, who famously appeared at the declaration wearing jeans and a T-shirt. He made his maiden speech on 2 June 2011 during a debate on Green Energy. McDonald has been a member of many committees in the parliament, but most recently sat on the Finance Committee and the Devolution & Further Powers Committee. In addition, he served on a number of Cross Party Groups (CPGs) including Oil & Gas, Carers, Epilepsy and Mental Health (which he co-convenes). He served as a Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney having previously been Parliamentary Liaison Officer to Alex Salmond during his tenure as First Minister.
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