Elena Whitham

Elena Whitham (née McLeod, born 9 July 1974) is a Scottish politician serving as Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy since March 2023. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley since 2021.[1][3]

Elena Whitham
MSP
Official portrait, 2023
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy
Assumed office
29 March 2023
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Preceded byAngela Constance
Minister for Community Safety
In office
3 November 2022 – 29 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byAsh Regan
Succeeded bySiobhian Brown
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
Assumed office
8 May 2021
Preceded byJeane Freeman
Personal details
Born
Elena McLeod

(1974-07-09) 9 July 1974[1]
Kilmarnock, Scotland[2]
Political partyScottish National Party
Children2[1]

Prior to her role in Humza Yousaf's government, she was appointed as Minister for Community Safety in November 2022 by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, following the resignation of Ash Regan.[4]

As a childhood emigrant to Quebec, Whitham returned to Scotland in the 1990s. She worked for Scottish Women's Aid before becoming a councillor for Irvine Valley in East Ayrshire Council, and then Depute Leader of the council.

Early life

Elena McLeod was born on 9 July 1974 in Kilmarnock. At the age of six, she and her family emigrated to Quebec, Canada due to her father struggling to find employment in Scotland.[5] Whitham's family were miners in Muirkirk and agricultural workers at many local farms from Sorn to Coylton. She had become a supporter of the principle of sovereignty after being given a copy of The Proclaimers album Sunshine on Leith by her grandmother in 1988.[5]

Whitham studied at the Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Montreal from 1990 to 1992. In 1993, She attended the Concordia University, where she gained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communications. In the 1995 Quebec independence referendum, she campaigned in-favour of Quebec sovereignty.[6]

After graduating, she returned to Scotland to work as a freelancer in local media. She then worked in community support roles in Ayrshire, where her family has deep roots. For over ten years she was a Scottish Women's Aid worker in Ayrshire, assisting victims of domestic abuse.[7]

Political career

Local government

On 1 October 2015 she was first elected to East Ayrshire Council in a by-election for the Irvine Valley ward.[8] She became Depute Leader of the council, and was also national housing and homelessness lead for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.[9][10]

Member of the Scottish Parliament

In October 2020 she was confirmed as a candidate for Scottish Parliament.[11] On 8 May 2021 she was elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.[12][3] Her majority of 4,337 votes (12.2%) was lower than that achieved in 2016 by her predecessor Jeane Freeman.[13]

Minister for Community Safety

In November 2022, it was announced that Whitham would succeed Ash Regan as Minister for Community Safety, subject to parliamentary approval.[14]

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy

On 29 March 2023, Humza Yousaf appointed Whitham as the retitled Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy within the Scottish Government, reporting directly to Yousaf as First Minister.[15]

Personal life

Whitham is the mother of two children.[1]

References
  1. Hilley, Sarah (1 September 2020). "Senior Councillor hoping to take Cumnock seat at next election". Cumnock Chronicle. Ardrossan. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  3. "Scottish Parliament election results – Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Constituency 2021". East Ayrshire Council. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  4. "New Minister announced". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  5. Whitham, Elena (7 November 2020). "Elena Whitham: From age 6 I knew something was wrong with UK politics". The National. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. StreetCumnock, 46-48 Glaisnock; KA18 1BYScotl (10 May 2021). "Elena Whitham". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  7. "Elena Whitham". LinkedIn.
  8. East Ayrshire By Election 2015 | Election Results | Ward 6 Irvine Valley | 01/10/2015, East Ayrshire Council
  9. Boothman, John (9 May 2021). "Ones to watch in the Holyrood class of 2021". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  10. "Search Results Page". www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  11. Pengilly, Calam (21 October 2020). "Whitham confirmed as local SNP candidate for 2021 Holyrood elections". www.cumnockchronicle.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  12. "Scotland Election 2021 | Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  13. Paterson, Colin (8 May 2021). "SNP complete Ayrshire clean sweep as Elena Whitham takes Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley seat". Daily Record. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  14. "New Minister announced". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  15. "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
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