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Elena Whitham

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Elena Whitham
MSP
Official portrait, 2023
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy
In office
29 March 2023 – 6 February 2024
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Preceded byAngela Constance
Succeeded byChristina McKelvie
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
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2021
Preceded byJeane Freeman
Personal details
Born
Elena McLeod

9 July 1974 (1974-07-09) (age 50)[1]
Kilmarnock, Scotland[2]
Political partyScottish National Party
Children2[1]

Elena Whitham (née McLeod, born 9 July 1974) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). She was elected in 2021 to represent Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.[1][3] From March 2023 to February 2024, she held the junior post of Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. Previously, she was Minister for Community Safety in November 2022 under First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, following the resignation of Ash Regan.[4]

As a child her family emigrated to Quebec, Whitham returned to Scotland in the 1990s, working 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

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Born on 9 July 1974 in Kilmarnock, her family emigrated to Quebec, Canada when she was six because her father could not find work in Scotland.[5] Whitham's family were miners in Muirkirk and agricultural workers at many local farms from Sorn to Coylton. 1990-1992, Whitham studied at the Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Saint Lambert, Quebec. In 1993 she studied at Concordia University for 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 and freelanced in local media, then worked in community support roles in Ayrshire including over ten years as a Scottish Women's Aid worker assisting victims of domestic abuse.[7]

Political career

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Local government

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On 1 October 2015 she was 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

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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

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In November 2022, it was announced that Whitham would succeed Ash Regan as Minister for Community Safety, subject to parliamentary approval.[4]

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy

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On 29 March 2023, Humza Yousaf appointed Whitham as the retitled Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy reporting directly to the First Minister.[14] She resigned the post on 6 February 2024 due to her suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. [15]

Personal life

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Whitham is the mother of two children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  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. ^ "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Drugs minister Elena Whitham quits due to post-traumatic stress". BBC News. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
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Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
2021–present 		Incumbent
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