Mackay becomes Minister in SNP Government
Renfrewshire North & West SNP MSP Derek Mackay has been invited by the First Minister Alex Salmond to join the Scottish Government as Minister for Local Government & Planning. The Former Renfrewshire Council Leader was elected to the Scottish Parliament in May 2011 and is recognised as having made a major impact within local government.
Derek joins the Government as a new ministerial post was created for Youth Employment, to be held by Angela Constance MSP. Aileen Campbell MSP, previous Local Government Minister moves to Minister for Children and Young People.
Mr Mackay said:
“To be appointed to the Scottish Government is a great honour for me, and I will do my upmost to serve Scotland well. I am delighted to join the Scottish Government, and look forward to working with colleagues, Parliament and local authorities to deliver on our ambitions for Scotland, such as boosting opportunities for our young people.
“I have had many goodwill messages, and remain a strong local voice never to forget my roots. As a Councillor and Council Leader I have been proud to represent my ward and my county. I was privileged to be elected to the Scottish Parliament in May representing Renfrewshire North & West, and whilst the appointment as Minister brings forward my departure from Renfrewshire Council, the surgeries, local constituency office, and all the local commitments continue. My fellow Renfrew North SNP Councillor Bill Perrie will ensure the ward continues to be well-represented within the council.
“The SNP has a strong record of achievement on Renfrewshire Council, including delivering massive investment in housing, schools, leisure and roads and I am sure this will continue, I am delighted to have played my part in this as Leader, and would like to thanks all colleagues, staff and constituents for their support over the years.”
Note
To serve as Minister Derek has resigned his role as Councillor for Renfrew North. As the resignation is within 6 months of a council election, no by-election is required and due to multi-member wards the Renfrew North council seat will continue to be represented by two Councillors including SNP running mate Bill Perrie, Convenor of the Renfrew & Gallowhill Local Area Committee.
Background
Elected an MSP on May 2011 representing Renfrewshire North & West, Derek served on the Finance Committee of the Scottish Parliament and was PLO (Political Liaison Officer) to the Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business & Government Strategy.
Derek was appointed SNP Business Convenor (Chairman of the Party) in June 2011, responsible for chairing Conference, the National Executive and the management and administration of the SNP.
Elected to Renfrewshire Council in 1999, at the age of 21, to become the youngest male Councillor in Scotland at the time. He won three successive ward elections, to become Leader of Renfrewshire Council in May 2007, taking the SNP from opposition to lead the administration for the first time. He became a national figure in local government leading the SNP group at COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) 2009-2011. In his final year as Leader the council received more Cosla (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) Excellence awards than any other authority in the history of the awards.
He served on Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board as a Non Executive Director and Chair of Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership (2007 - 2011). He was also previously chair of the Paisley Vision Board and Renfrewshire's Fairtrade Steering Group.
Derek joins the Government as a new ministerial post was created for Youth Employment, to be held by Angela Constance MSP. Aileen Campbell MSP, previous Local Government Minister moves to Minister for Children and Young People.
Mr Mackay said:
“To be appointed to the Scottish Government is a great honour for me, and I will do my upmost to serve Scotland well. I am delighted to join the Scottish Government, and look forward to working with colleagues, Parliament and local authorities to deliver on our ambitions for Scotland, such as boosting opportunities for our young people.
“I have had many goodwill messages, and remain a strong local voice never to forget my roots. As a Councillor and Council Leader I have been proud to represent my ward and my county. I was privileged to be elected to the Scottish Parliament in May representing Renfrewshire North & West, and whilst the appointment as Minister brings forward my departure from Renfrewshire Council, the surgeries, local constituency office, and all the local commitments continue. My fellow Renfrew North SNP Councillor Bill Perrie will ensure the ward continues to be well-represented within the council.
“The SNP has a strong record of achievement on Renfrewshire Council, including delivering massive investment in housing, schools, leisure and roads and I am sure this will continue, I am delighted to have played my part in this as Leader, and would like to thanks all colleagues, staff and constituents for their support over the years.”
Note
To serve as Minister Derek has resigned his role as Councillor for Renfrew North. As the resignation is within 6 months of a council election, no by-election is required and due to multi-member wards the Renfrew North council seat will continue to be represented by two Councillors including SNP running mate Bill Perrie, Convenor of the Renfrew & Gallowhill Local Area Committee.
Background
Elected an MSP on May 2011 representing Renfrewshire North & West, Derek served on the Finance Committee of the Scottish Parliament and was PLO (Political Liaison Officer) to the Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business & Government Strategy.
Derek was appointed SNP Business Convenor (Chairman of the Party) in June 2011, responsible for chairing Conference, the National Executive and the management and administration of the SNP.
Elected to Renfrewshire Council in 1999, at the age of 21, to become the youngest male Councillor in Scotland at the time. He won three successive ward elections, to become Leader of Renfrewshire Council in May 2007, taking the SNP from opposition to lead the administration for the first time. He became a national figure in local government leading the SNP group at COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) 2009-2011. In his final year as Leader the council received more Cosla (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) Excellence awards than any other authority in the history of the awards.
He served on Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board as a Non Executive Director and Chair of Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership (2007 - 2011). He was also previously chair of the Paisley Vision Board and Renfrewshire's Fairtrade Steering Group.