Gail Ross

Gail Elizabeth Ross is the Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross since the election in May 2016. She was a councillor on the Highland Council 2011–2016, and civic leader of Caithness 2012–2016.

Gail Ross

MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded byRob Gibson
Majority3,913 (12.2%)
Personal details
BornWick, Highland, Scotland
NationalityScottish
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouse(s)Stuart Ross

Early life

Ross grew up in Reiss and Wick, Caithness.[1] She studied in Glasgow, first a combination of advertising and PR, later English and psychology.[2]

Political career

She joined the SNP in 1997.[2] She was first elected to Highland council in a by-election in 2011.[3] At the time her success was considered a breakthrough for the SNP.[4][5] She was re-elected in May 2012.[6]

Civic leader

In May 2012, following re-election to Highland Council, she became the civic leader of Caithness.[7]

In August 2015, Ross spoke out against the Grindadráp, a Faroese traditional celebration of whaling, suggesting that on account of this that Wick should reconsider their twinning arrangement with the town of Klaksvík.[8] Ross wrote to the mayor of Klaksvík to raise her concerns that the whaling was not something that Wick should be associated with.[9] In January 2016 the matter was brought to the Highland Council,[10] which led to an intervention from Klaksvík's mayor.[11] The council deferred making a decision.[12]

Scottish Parliament

In August 2015, she was announced as the SNP candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, in place of the retiring Rob Gibson.[13] She has called for increased provision of ambulances in Caithness.[14] She has highlighted the need for affordable housing in the Highlands.[2] In May 2016 she was elected with a majority of 3,913.[15] The following month she was elected as the deputy convener of the Rural Affairs and Connectivity Committee.[16]

In February 2020, Gail Ross announced that she would not be standing for reelection in the next election, citing her wish to spend more time with her family. [17]

In November 2016 she resigned her position on Highland council after other Caithness councillors called for an independent review into the introduction of midwife-led maternity services in their area made by NHS Highland. Ross supported the decision by NHS Highland to proceed with the reconfiguration to a Community Maternity Unit (CMU) at Caithness General Hospital, which had been recommended on safety grounds following a review.[18]

Executive positions

She is a member of the board of North Highland College.[19]

Personal life

She is married to a teacher and they have a son together.[1]

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References
  1. "Wick's Gail Ross confirms re-election bid". John O'Groat Journal. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. Spowart, Nan (2 May 2016). "Affordable housing at very top of the agenda for SNP hopeful Gail Ross". The National. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  3. "SNP wins Highland Council by-election for Wick ward". BBC News. 8 April 2011.
  4. "By-election victory 'a major breakthrough' for SNP". STV News. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. "Wick by-election: SNP's 'major breakthrough' in Lib Dem heartlands". newsnet.scot. 10 April 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. "Highland Council election results". 4 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  7. "Civic leader role 'a tremendous honour'". John O'Groat Journal. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  8. Ross, David (20 August 2015). "Wick leaves Faroese twin over whales". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  9. Vidal, John (21 August 2015). "Scottish town cuts twinned link to Faroe Islands over whale killings". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  10. "Whaling row could end Wick's twinning link with Klaksvik". BBC News. 8 January 2016.
  11. "Mayor offers talks to resolve Klaksvik-Wick twinning row". BBC News. 11 January 2016.
  12. "Councillors defer a decision on Wick's twinning link with Klaksvik". BBC News. 13 January 2016.
  13. "SNP select candidate intent on replacing Rob Gibson as Ross MSP". Ross-shire Journal. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  14. "Call for increased ambulance provision in Caithness". BBC News. 11 December 2015.
  15. "Holyrood 2016: SNP hold Highlands and Islands seats". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
  16. Kirkaldy, Liam (17 June 2016). "Edward Mountain elected convener of the Rural Affairs and Connectivity Committee". Holyrood. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-51662942
  18. "MSP Gail Ross quits council amid maternity services row". BBC News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  19. "about us: governance: board of management". North Highland College. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
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