Jack McConnell

The Right Honourable Jack Wilson McConnell (born June 30, 1960 in Irvine, Ayrshire) is a Scottish politician, leader of the Labour Party in Scotland and the current First Minister of Scotland.

Political career

McConnell became the General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party in 1992. His major breakthrough was in his handling of the 1997 General Election success, where Labour attained a landslide victory over the Conservatives, eliminating every seat they held in Scotland. In 1998, he served as a member of the Scottish Constitutional Convention where he pioneered the Scottish devolution referrendum success establishing the Scottish Parliament.

Related Topics:
1997 General Election - Conservatives - Devolution - Scottish Parliament

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McConnell was elected an MSP in the first Scottish Parliament elections in 1999. He was appointed Finance Minister in the new executive by then-First Minister Donald Dewar. Upon Dewar?s death in 2000, he contested Henry McLeish for the position of First Minister, but lost out in the ballot, instead becoming Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs under McLeish. McLeish would later be forced to resign over the affair regarding the sub-let of his constituency office, and on November 22, 2001, McConnell would become First Minister after running unopposed.

Related Topics:
MSP - Scottish Parliament elections in 1999 - Donald Dewar - Henry McLeish - Affair regarding the sub-let of his constituency office - November 22 - 2001

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