FOLLOWING rumours that she was in line for a promotion Màiri McAllan is joining the Cabinet for the first time as the Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition.
First elected as an MSP in 2021, McAllan has risen rapidly through the ranks and, at the age of 30, makes up part of a youthful new team leading the Scottish Government.
But who is she and what did she do before entering politics?
Who is Màiri McAllan?
McAllan grew up and was educated in Biggar, South Lanarkshire before going on to study Scots law at Glasgow University.
She then studied European law at the Ghent University in Belgium and would eventually gain her diploma in professional legal practice.
After qualifying as a Scots lawyer, she specialised in energy and natural resources in a Glasgow commercial firm.
READ MORE: Meet Scotland's new Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth
She also co-founded the human rights organisation Reblaw Scotland which, according to its Twitter page, “explores using law as a tool for social justice in Scotland”.
What roles has she held in politics?
McAllan has worked as a special adviser to Nicola Sturgeon and was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2021 as the MSP for Clydesdale.
Prior to this, she stood unsuccessfully in the 2017 UK General Election for the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency.
She lost out to Tory MP David Mundell, who still holds the seat today.
In 2021, she was appointed as a minister for the environment, biodiversity and land reform.
What did she say during the leadership race?
McAllan ruled herself out of the race to become the next SNP leader early on and gave her full backing to First Minister Humza Yousaf.
This came after a source close to the MSP told The National that she was considering what was “best for the SNP and for Scotland”.
During her role as a minister, she has spoken about how independence and “full borrowing powers” would allow Scotland to make greater progress on its green targets.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel