FOLLOWING rumours that she was in line for a promotion Màiri McAllan is joining the Cabinet for the first time as the Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition.
First elected as an MSP in 2021, McAllan has risen rapidly through the ranks and, at the age of 30, makes up part of a youthful new team leading the Scottish Government.
But who is she and what did she do before entering politics?
Who is Màiri McAllan?
McAllan grew up and was educated in Biggar, South Lanarkshire before going on to study Scots law at Glasgow University.
She then studied European law at the Ghent University in Belgium and would eventually gain her diploma in professional legal practice.
After qualifying as a Scots lawyer, she specialised in energy and natural resources in a Glasgow commercial firm.
She also co-founded the human rights organisation Reblaw Scotland which, according to its Twitter page, “explores using law as a tool for social justice in Scotland”.
What roles has she held in politics?
McAllan has worked as a special adviser to Nicola Sturgeon and was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2021 as the MSP for Clydesdale.
Prior to this, she stood unsuccessfully in the 2017 UK General Election for the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency.
She lost out to Tory MP David Mundell, who still holds the seat today.
In 2021, she was appointed as a minister for the environment, biodiversity and land reform.
What did she say during the leadership race?
McAllan ruled herself out of the race to become the next SNP leader early on and gave her full backing to First Minister Humza Yousaf.
This came after a source close to the MSP told The National that she was considering what was “best for the SNP and for Scotland”.
During her role as a minister, she has spoken about how independence and “full borrowing powers” would allow Scotland to make greater progress on its green targets.
