Michael Russell (Scottish politician)
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Michael William Russell[1] (born 9 August 1953) is a Scottish politician serving as Chairman of the Scottish Land Commission since 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he served in the Scottish Cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning from 2009 to 2014, Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations from 2018 to 2020, and Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs from 2020 to 2021. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Argyll and Bute from 2011 to 2021, having previously served as a list MSP for South of Scotland from 1999 to 2003 and 2007 to 2011.
Michael Russell | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chairman of the Scottish Land Commission | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 1 February 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Humza Yousaf John Swinney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Andrew Thin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
President of the Scottish National Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 30 November 2020 – 1 December 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Nicola Sturgeon Humza Yousaf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Ian Hudghton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | TBD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish National Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Acting 18 March 2023 – 12 April 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Nicola Sturgeon Humza Yousaf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Peter Murrell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Murray Foote | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 1994–1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Alex Salmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Peter Murrell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 17 February 2020 – 20 May 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Himself (Constitutional Relations) Fiona Hyslop (External Relations) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Angus Robertson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 26 June 2018 – 17 February 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Derek Mackay (Constitution) Bruce Crawford (Government Strategy; 2012) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Himself | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 1 December 2009 – 21 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First Minister | Alex Salmond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Fiona Hyslop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Angela Constance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1953-08-09) 9 August 1953 (age 70) Bromley, Kent, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nationality | Scottish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Scottish National Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Cathleen McAskill (m. 1980) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | One son, Cailean | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Glendaruel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Edinburgh University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Russell previously worked as a television producer and director and the author of seven books. He was Chief Executive of the SNP from 1994 to 1999 and was elected to the Scottish Parliament as a regional MSP for the South of Scotland at the first Scottish Parliament election in 1999. However, he lost his seat in the 2003 Scottish Parliament election. He was elected again in May 2007 and was appointed Minister for Environment in Scotland's first-ever SNP administration by First Minister Alex Salmond.[2]
He was then reshuffled on 10 February 2009 to become Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, and was later promoted to the Scottish Cabinet on 1 December 2009 replacing Fiona Hyslop as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning until November 2014, when he was sacked by new First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.[3] He became a backbencher and was a professor of culture and governance at the University of Glasgow from 2015 to 2016. Russell later served in the second Sturgeon government as Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe from August 2016 to June 2018. He returned to the Cabinet in 2018 as Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations, later Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs, before standing down at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Russell was elected President of the SNP in November 2020 and resigned from this position in December 2023 ahead of his appointment as Chairman of the Scottish Land Commission.[4] He stepped in as acting Chief Executive of the SNP from March to April 2023 following Peter Murrell’s resignation.