Jamie Hepburn

James Douglas Hepburn (born 21 May 1979) is a Scottish politician serving as Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills since 26 June 2018. He had previously been the Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health from 2014 to 2016 and Minister for Employability and Training from 2016 to 2018. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency since 2011, having previously represented the Central Scotland region from 2007 to 2011.

Jamie Hepburn

MSP
Hepburn in 2011
Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills
Assumed office
26 June 2018
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byPaul Wheelhouse
Minister for Employability and Training
In office
18 May 2016 – 26 June 2018
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byAnnabelle Ewing
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health
In office
21 November 2014 – 18 May 2016
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byMaureen Watt
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
Assumed office
5 May 2011
Preceded byCathie Craigie
Majority9,478 (33.5%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Central Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office
3 May 2007 – 22 March 2011
Personal details
Born
James Douglas Hepburn

(1979-05-21) 21 May 1979
Glasgow
NationalityScottish
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouse(s)Julie Hepburn
ResidenceCumbernauld, North Lanarkshire
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
Websitewww.jamiehepburn.net

Early life

Born in Glasgow, Hepburn was educated at Hyndland Secondary School and graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Politics and History degree. Whilst a student, Hepburn ran the unsuccessful campaign for Alasdair Gray to become the Rector of the University of Glasgow and was the Senior Vice-President at the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council, a post once held by his SNP Parliamentary colleague Alasdair Allan.

Career

Before his election, Hepburn was convener of the Federation of Student Nationalists and the Young Scots for Independence. He had been the SNP candidate for the Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East constituency at the 2005 general election. He has worked for Alex Neil, a fellow SNP MSP.

Hepburn was elected during the 2007 election for the Central Scotland region, having also contested the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth seat at that election, finishing second behind Cathie Craigie. In this election he was one of only two candidates to win more than 40% in the constituency contested and not win the seat, the other being Alasdair Morrison in the Western Isles. He was the second youngest elected member of the Scottish Parliament for the 2007–2011 session after his SNP colleague Aileen Campbell.

Hepburn was a member of the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Environment Committee and a substitute member of the Equal Opportunities Committee until 26 June 2008 when he became a member of the European and External Relations Committee, and a substitute to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, before being switched to a substitute member of the Public Petitions Committee. He subsequently was moved to the Public Audit and Equal Opportunities Committees towards the latter part of the third session of the Scottish Parliament. He is now the Deputy Convener of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee. Hepburn also served as the convener of the Cross Party Group on Human Rights and Civil Liberties in the Scottish Parliament's third session.

He was placed third on the SNP list for Central Scotland for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election[1] but was returned for the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency. On 21 November 2014, it was announced that he would be Minister for Sport and Health Improvement.[2] On 18 May he was moved to the post of Minister for Employability and Training.

It was Hepburn's written question which revealed that projects in Scotland funded by the Private Finance Initiative will cost the taxpayer some £22.3 billion over a 40-year period.

He was one of six SNP MSPs to attend the "Big Blockade" event at the Faslane naval base organised by Faslane 365 on 1 October 2007[3] and has been active in calling for greater transparency about allegations that American government agencies facilitated extraordinary rendition flights through Scottish airports.[4][5] He has also called for any Scottish airport that is being sold by BAA Limited to be brought under public control.[6]

Hepburn has signed up to the People's Charter, a campaigning document prepared by trade unionists as an alternative to neoliberalism [7] and has drawn criticism from some elements of the Scottish media for having tabled a motion on Venezuela.[8]

Personal life

Hepburn's wife Julie was the SNP candidate for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East at the 2010 general election. He is a supporter of Partick Thistle Football Club.

References
  2. "Nicola Sturgeon announces new Scottish cabinet". BBC News. BBC. 21 November 2014.
  3. UK Indymedia - hundreds descend on faslane for the big blockade
  4. "Assurances sought over rendition". BBC News. 24 February 2008.
  5. Chief quizzed on rendition flights - Carrick Today
  6. Manchester set to make 700m bid for Glasgow Airport - The Herald
  8. "News | The Scotsman". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
Cathie Craigie		 Member of Scottish Parliament for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

2011 – present

 Incumbent
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