Michael Russell MSP |
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Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe | |
Assumed office 26 August 2016 |
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First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning | |
In office 1 December 2009 – 21 November 2014 |
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First Minister | Alex Salmond |
Preceded by | Fiona Hyslop |
Succeeded by | Angela Constance |
Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution and Minister for Gaelic |
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In office 12 February 2009 – 1 December 2009 |
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First Minister | Alex Salmond |
Preceded by | Linda Fabiani |
Succeeded by | Fiona Hyslop |
Minister for Environment | |
In office 17 May 2007 – 12 February 2009 |
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First Minister | Alex Salmond |
Preceded by | Sarah Boyack |
Succeeded by | Roseanna Cunningham |
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll and Bute |
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Assumed office 6 May 2011 |
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Preceded by | Jim Mather |
Majority | 5,978 |
Member of the Scottish Parliament for South of Scotland |
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In office 1 May 1999 – 6 May 2003 |
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In office 4 May 2007 – 6 May 2011 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Bromley, Kent |
9 August 1953
Nationality | Scottish |
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Spouse(s) | Cathleen |
Children | One son, Caileen |
Residence | Glendaruel |
Alma mater | Edinburgh University |
Religion | Episcopalian |
Michael William "Mike" Russell, (born 9 August 1953) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who is the Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe and the Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Argyll and Bute constituency. He is a professor of culture and governance at the University of Glasgow. He has previously worked as a television producer and director and the author of seven books.
He was Chief Executive of the SNP from 1994 to 1999 and was elected to the Scottish Parliament as a regional MSP for the South of Scotland at the first Scottish Parliament elections in 1999. However, he lost his seat in the 2003 Scottish Parliament Election. He was elected again in May 2007 and was appointed Minister for Environment in Scotland's first-ever SNP administration by First Minister Alex Salmond. He was then reshuffled on 10 February 2009 to become Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, and was later promoted on 1 December 2009 replacing Fiona Hyslop as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning until November 2014.
Russell was born in Bromley, Kent to an English mother and a Scottish father. He was educated at Marr College,Troon and Edinburgh University, there studying firstly Theology and then Scottish History and Literature. He worked in television and the media prior to establishing his own media company, Eala Bhan Ltd.