Keith Brown (Scottish politician)

Further information: 2014 Scottish National Party leadership election

Following defeat in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Scottish National Party leader and First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond announced his resignation as SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland. ^[14] In the aftermath of his resignation, a leadership bid was launched, with Deputy First Minister of Scotland and SNP Deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon widely tipped to become Salmond's successor. ^{[15] [16]}

On 25 September 2014, Brown officially launched his bid to become the Deputy leader of the Scottish National Party, with the backing of several SNP MSPs, as well as several Scottish Government ministers. ^{[17] [18]} The results of the election were announced at the SNP Autumn Conference on the 14 November, with Brown losing the contest to Stewart Hosie, with 45.5% of the vote in the second round to Hosie's 55.5%. ^[19]

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities

On 21 November 2014, he was promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities in Nicola Sturgeon's first reshuffle. ^[20] Brown was re-elected to the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency in 2016.

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work

On 18 May, he was reshuffled to the position of Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, while still maintaining responsibility for veterans affairs. ^[21]

In December 2016, Brown led calls for Amazon to pay its employees the living wage after reports surfaced concerning the conditions of workers in the company's Dunfermline depot, holding talks with Amazon several days later in which he was told Amazon would "consider" paying the living wage. ^{[22] [23] [24]}

In July 2017, Brown wrote to UK ministers on the need to continue legal protected status for the definition of Scotch whisky post-Brexit amid fears that in a future trade deal the USA “would support a relaxation of the definition of whisky, which would open the market up to a number of products which do not currently meet that standard.” ^{[25] [26] [27]} Later on in 2017 he visited the US and Canada in a series of speaking engagements to promote economic ties between North American business communities and Scotland. ^{[28] [29]}

Deputy leader of the Scottish National Party

Brown at 2018 SNP Conference

On 8 June 2018, Keith Brown became the deputy leader of the Scottish National Party, having contested and won the 2018 Scottish National Party depute leadership election with 55% of votes in the second round. ^[30] At his acceptance speech at the SNP conference in Aberdeen, Brown told fellow SNP members to prepare for a second Scottish independence referendum. ^{[31] [32] [33]} Brown also announced that he would chair three national assemblies to debate the SNP's 2018 Growth Commission report on an independent Scotland's economic prospects. ^{[31] [34] [35]}

Although Brown was elected Deputy Leader of the SNP, John Swinney remained as Sturgeon's Deputy First Minister despite Brown being a member of the Scottish Parliament. In the June 2018 reshuffle of the Scottish Government, Brown stood down as Economy Secretary to focus on his role as deputy leader, He was replaced by Derek Mackay. He was subsequently given a role as the SNP's Campaign Manager.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans

Brown was re-appointed to the Scottish Cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans, in Nicola Sturgeon's third administration. ^[36]

See also

• Government of the 4th Scottish Parliament

Notes

1. Previously titled Minister for Transport and Infrastructure from 2010 to 2011 and Minister for Housing and Transport from 2011 to 2012

References

1. "New minister Keith Brown has bridge toll conviction". BBC News . 13 December 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
2. "People: Keith Brown". Scottish National Party (SNP). Archived from the original on 16 January 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
3. "Personal Information". Scottish Parliament . 5 June 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
4. "Alba Money – Financial news and budgeting advice". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
5. "Alba Money – Financial news and budgeting advice". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
6. "BBC NEWS, Scottish elections 2007, Ochil". BBC News.
7. "The Scottish Parliament: – Committees – Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments". Archived from the original on 1 January 2008.
8. "The Courier: Taking you to the heart of Tayside and Fife". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008.
9. "Scotsman.com News". The Scotsman. Edinburgh.
10. "Show Scotland Games On Main TV Says MSP". dailyrecord. 9 January 2008.
11. "PM on constituency campaign trail". 10 April 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
12. "Cabinet and ministers at-a-glance". BBC News. 8 December 2009.
13. "Keith Brown named new Scottish transport minister". BBC News. 12 December 2010.
14. Carrell, Severin; Wintour, Patrick; Mason, Rowena (19 September 2014). "Alex Salmond resigns as first minister after Scotland rejects independence". The Guardian– via www.theguardian.com.
15. "Scottish referendum: Nicola Sturgeon edges closer to SNP leadership". The Independent. 21 September 2014.
16. "Scottish ministers 'back Sturgeon'". BBC News. 21 September 2014.
17. "Transport Minister Keith Brown and Dundee MP Stewart Hosie launch rival bids for SNP Deputy Leadership". dailyrecord. 25 September 2014.
18. "SNP minister Yousaf supports Keith Brown deputy leadership bid". STV News . 29 September 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2016.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
19. "Stewart Hosie elected deputy leader of the SNP". BBC News. 14 November 2014.
20. "Nicola Sturgeon announces new Scottish cabinet". BBC News. 21 November 2014.
21. "Who is in the 2016 Scottish cabinet?". BBC News. 18 May 2016.
22. "Amazon conditions talks 'productive'". BBC News. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
23. Cameron, Lucinda (19 December 2016). "Minister demands Amazon pays real living wage to staff". dailyrecord. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
24. "Minister seeks meeting over Amazon claims". BBC News. 13 December 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
25. "Scotland calls for UK legal protection of Scotch whisky post-Brexit". The Independent. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
26. Barber, Lynsey (30 July 2017). "Scots call for Scotch guards in Brexit negotiations" . Retrieved 9 June 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
27. McCulloch, Scott (31 July 2017). "Calls for Scotch whisky to be protected by UK government after Brexit". businessInsider. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
28. "Scotland is 'open for business' – Keith Brown" . Retrieved 9 June 2018.
29. "Scottish minister to tour Canada and US". BBC News. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
30. SNP conference: Keith Brown elected deputy leader. BBC NEWS. Published 8 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
31. "Indyref2 ahead vows Keith Brown after elected SNP Depute Leader" . Retrieved 9 June 2018.
32. "IndyRef2 will 'undoubtedly' happen, says new SNP depute leader Keith Brown". iNews. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
33. "'Get ready for a second vote': New SNP depute's message to Scottish independence supporters". Evening Times. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
34. "New SNP depute leader Keith Brown promises a national debate on the Growth Commission at #SNP18". CommonSpace. Retrieved 9 June 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
35. "SNP elects Keith Brown as new Depute Leader". Evening Times. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
36. "Nicola Sturgeon appoints new health and education secretaries". BBC News . 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021.

External links

• personal website
• Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Keith Brown
• profile on Bannockburn SNP branch website

Keith Brown MSP
Official portrait, 2021
Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 June 2018

Scottish Parliament
Preceded by George Reid	Member of the Scottish Parliament for Ochil 2007–2011	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of the Scottish Parliament for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane 2011–present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Angus Robertson	Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party 2018–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Maureen Watt	Minister for Schools and Skills Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning 2009–2010	Succeeded by Angela Constance
Preceded by Stewart Stevenson	Minister for Transport and Veterans 2010–2014	Succeeded by Derek Mackay
Preceded by Nicola Sturgeon	Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities 2014–2016	Office abolished
Preceded by Humza Yousaf	Cabinet Secretary for Justice 2021–2023	Succeeded by Angela Constance