Paul Wheelhouse

Last updated

(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
Paul Wheelhouse
Paul Wheelhouse (26489728993).jpg
Wheelhouse in 2016
Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands
In office
27 June 2018 –20 May 2021
In office
6 May 2011 –6 May 2021
Personal details
Born
Paul Richard William Wheelhouse

(1970-06-22) 22 June 1970 (age 55)
Dundonald, County Down, Northern Ireland
Political party Scottish National Party
Education Stewart's Melville College
Alma mater University of Aberdeen
University of Edinburgh

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.

Contents

Early life

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

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

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 again in Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, where he received 10,521 votes (31.8%). [10] Having not been elected as a constituency MSP, he was returned to the Parliament by the regional list. [11]

Wheelhouse retained second place on the constituency vote at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, taking 11,701 votes (32.5%), up by 0.7%. [12] On the regional list, he was placed third, and was not re-elected, making him the only government minister to lose their seat in the election. [13] [14]

References

  1. ↑ "Minister for Community Safety & Legal Affairs: Paul Wheelhouse MSP". Scottish Government. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Official Report 26 April 2012". Scottish Parliament . Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. ↑ Rinaldi, Giancarlo (4 May 2010). "Jobs key issue in Berwickshire tussle". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Election result for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Berwickshire". UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Scotland". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "Election results 2011: Scottish parliament results in full". The Guardian. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  8. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - Scotland - South Scotland". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon announces new Scottish cabinet". BBC News. 21 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire - Scottish Parliament - Elections 2016". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  11. ↑ "SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION - ELECTION OF REGIONAL MEMBERS OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT - SOUTH SCOTLAND REGION". Scottish Borders Council. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  12. ↑ "Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  13. ↑ "Minister loses seat after failing in bid to oust Tory". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "SNP win election one seat short of majority". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
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