Paul Wheelhouse
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Paul Richard William Wheelhouse (born 22 June 1970) is a former Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who served as Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands from 2018 to 2021. He was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the South Scotland region from 2011 until 2021 and Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy in the Scottish Government from May 2016 to June 2018.
Early life
[edit]Wheelhouse was born in 1970 in Dundonald, County Down. He was raised in Edinburgh, where he attended the independent, fee-paying Stewart's Melville College. He graduated with a Scottish MA degree in Economic Science from the University of Aberdeen and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh.[1] He is a former member of the Conservative Party[2] and was active in the University of Aberdeen Conservative and Unionist Association.
Before entering politics, Wheelhouse worked as an economist, specialising in higher education, government policy and impact assessments for private capital projects.[3]
Political career
[edit]Wheelhouse was the SNP candidate in the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk constituency in the 2010 United Kingdom general election, coming fourth with 4,497 votes (9.2%).[4][5]
Member of the Scottish Parliament
[edit]Wheelhouse ran in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, increasing the SNP's share of the vote by 8.6%, and finished second to John Lamont of the Conservatives.[6][7]The SNP were entitled to representation on the South Scotland regional list, with Wheelhouse being among the four MSPs elected for the party in that region.[8]
In September 2012, Wheelhouse became Minister for Environment and Climate Change, replacing Stewart Stevenson. When Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister in November 2014, he was appointed to the position of Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs.[9]
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Wheelhouse stood for the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency and came second, then was returned to the Parliament by the regional list. He contested the same seat at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, but lost the constituency contest and was not returned to Parliament by the regional list.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Minister for Community Safety & Legal Affairs: Paul Wheelhouse MSP". Scottish Government. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Official Report 26 April 2012". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ Rinaldi, Giancarlo (4 May 2010). "Jobs key issue in Berwickshire tussle". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- ^ "Election result for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Berwickshire". UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Scotland". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Election results 2011: Scottish parliament results in full". The Guardian. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Scotland - South Scotland". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Nicola Sturgeon announces new Scottish cabinet". BBC News. 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Minister loses seat after failing in bid to oust Tory". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
External links
[edit]- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Paul Wheelhouse
- profile on SNP website
- 1970 births
- Living people
- People from Dundonald, County Down
- People educated at Stewart's Melville College
- Alumni of the University of Aberdeen
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- Scottish National Party MSPs
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021
- Ministers of the Scottish Government