Paul Wheelhouse

Paul Richard William Wheelhouse (born 22 June 1970) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician serving as Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands since 26 June 2018. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the South Scotland region since 2011 and Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy in the Scottish Government from May 2016 to June 2018.

Paul Wheelhouse

MSP
Wheelhouse in 2011
Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands
Assumed office
27 June 2018
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byHumza Yousaf
Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy
In office
18 May 2016 – 26 June 2018
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byFergus Ewing
Succeeded byJamie Hepburn
Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs
In office
21 November 2014 – 18 May 2016
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byRoseanna Cunningham
Succeeded byAnnabelle Ewing
Minister for Environment and Climate Change
In office
6 September 2012 – 21 November 2014
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byStewart Stevenson
Succeeded byAileen McLeod
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for South Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
Assumed office
6 May 2011
Personal details
Born
Paul Richard William Wheelhouse

(1970-06-22) 22 June 1970
Dundonald, County Down, Northern Ireland
Political partyScottish National Party
EducationStewart's Melville College
Alma materUniversity of Aberdeen
University of Edinburgh

Early life

Wheelhouse was born in 1970 in Dundonald, County Down. He was raised in Edinburgh, where he attended the independent, fee-paying Stewart's Melville College. He graduated with a Scottish MA degree in Economic Science from the University of Aberdeen and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh.[1] He is a former member of the Conservative Party[2] and was active in the University of Aberdeen Conservative and Unionist Association.

Before entering politics, Wheelhouse worked as an economist, specialising in higher education, government policy and impact assessments for private capital projects.[3]

Scottish Parliament

Wheelhouse was the SNP candidate in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency in the 2010 United Kingdom general election.[4]

Wheelhouse then stood for election in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. He finished second to Conservative John Lamont in that contest, but was elected to the Scottish Parliament on the South of Scotland regional list.[5]

In September 2012, Wheelhouse became Minister for Environment and Climate Change, replacing Stewart Stevenson. When Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister in November 2014, he was appointed to the position of Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs.[6]

In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Wheelhouse stood for the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency and came second, then was returned to the Parliament by the regional list.

References
  1. "Minister for Community Safety & Legal Affairs: Paul Wheelhouse MSP". Scottish Government. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. "Official Report 26 April 2012". Scottish Parliament.
  3. "Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. Rinaldi, Giancarlo (4 May 2010). "Jobs key issue in Berwickshire tussle". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  5. "The Scottish Parliament – Current Members – Paul Wheelhouse". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  6. "Nicola Sturgeon announces new Scottish cabinet". BBC News. 21 November 2014.


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