Aileen Campbell

Aileen Elizabeth Campbell (born 18 May 1980) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government since 26 June 2018 and Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Clydesdale. She was formerly Minister for Local Government and Planning May 2011−December 2011, then Minister for Children and Young People December 2011−May 2016 and Minister for Public Health and Sport from May 2016 to June 2018.

Aileen Campbell

MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government
Assumed office
26 June 2018
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byAngela Constance
Minister for Public Health and Sport
In office
18 May 2016 – 26 June 2018
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byMaureen Watt
Succeeded byJoe FitzPatrick
Minister for Children and Young People
In office
6 December 2011 – 18 May 2016
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Nicola Sturgeon
DeputyFiona McLeod
Preceded byAngela Constance
Succeeded byMark McDonald
Minister for Local Government and Planning
In office
25 May 2011 – 6 December 2011
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byDerek Mackay
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Clydesdale
Assumed office
5 May 2011
Preceded byKaren Gillon
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for South of Scotland
In office
3 May 2007 – 5 May 2011
Personal details
Born (1980-05-18) 18 May 1980
Perth, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouse(s)Graham Fraser White
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow

Campbell was first elected to the Scottish Parliament on 3 May 2007 as a list member for the South of Scotland region. At 26 years and 351 days on her election, she was the youngest MSP elected to serve in Parliament in the 2007–2011 session, followed by her SNP colleague Jamie Hepburn in second place. In December 2014 Campbell became the first person to take maternity leave while serving as a Minister of the Scottish Government.

Early life

Campbell was born on 18 May 1980 in Perth, Scotland. She grew up on her parents' tenant farm in Perthshire and was educated at Collace Primary School and Perth Academy.[1] She studied Politics and History at the University of Glasgow. From 2005−06 Campbell was national convener of the SNP youth wing, the Young Scots for Independence.[2] Since graduating, she has worked as editor of construction magazine Keystone and was editorial assistant on a short-lived pro-independence newspaper, the Scottish Standard. Before her election to Parliament Campbell also worked for Nicola Sturgeon and as a researcher for Shona Robison and Stewart Hosie.[3][4]

Aileen married Graham Fraser White in Collace Kirk, Perthshire, on 15 August 2009.[5]

Member of the Scottish Parliament

At the 2007 Scottish Parliament election she was the SNP candidate for the Clydesdale constituency where she finished second but was subsequently elected as an addition a member for the South of Scotland region due to Campbell being fifth on the SNP's regional list.

Campbell suffered a minor injury on 23 January 2008, receiving medical treatment at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before returning to the parliament for a vote.[6] The vote was won by 64 votes to 62.[7]

In early 2009 Campbell launched the "Play it again" scheme with the Scottish Arts Council and others to encourage people across Scotland to donate their unwanted and unloved musical instruments to be passed on to children across the country to give them the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of music.[8][9] Campbell was nominated for Real Radio's "Best New Scottish Politician 2009 Award".[10]

Campbell was elected as MSP for Clydesdale on 5 May 2011 after receiving an 8.9% swing from Labour, giving her a majority of 4,216.

She served as Minister for Local Government and Planning from 25 May 2011 until 6 December 2011.[11] when she was moved to the position of Minister for Children and Young People. On 18 December 2014, Campbell began maternity leave and Fiona McLeod acted as Minister for Children and Young People until Campbell returned on 1 September 2015. This was the first time that a Minister of the Scottish Government had taken maternity leave.[12]

In the 2016 election she was re-elected as the MSP for Clydesdale with an increased majority.[13]

On 18 May 2016 she was moved to the post of Minister for Public Health and Sport in a reshuffle.[14]

On 8 March 2020, she announced that she would step down at the next election to spend more time with her family.[15]

See also
  • Government of the 3rd Scottish Parliament
  • Government of the 4th Scottish Parliament

References
  1. Buie, Elizabeth (13 January 2012). "Aileen Campbell". TES. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  2. "SNP names Holyrood candidate". Carluke Gazette. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  3. "Aileen Campbell". The SNP. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  4. "Minister for Public Health and Sport - gov.scot". beta.gov.scot. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  5. "Salmond sends wedding wish". Edinburgh Evening News. 15 August 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  6. "MSP returns despite soup incident". BBC News. 23 January 2008.
  7. "Scots budget clears first hurdle". BBC News. 23 January 2008.
  8. "Musical cast-offs play it again". BBC News. 2 January 2009.
  9. "Franz Ferdinand bassist in call for old instruments". The Herald. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  10. Real Radio
  11. "Previous MSPs: Session 4: Campbell, Aileen". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  12. "New ministerial line-up unveiled" (Press release). Scottish Government. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  13. "Clydesdale goes with the flow in election". Carluke Gazette. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  14. "Who is in the 2016 Scottish cabinet?". BBC News. 18 May 2016.
  15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51790745
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
Karen Gillon		 Member of the Scottish Parliament for
Clydesdale
2011–present		 Incumbent
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