Kevin Stewart (Scottish politician)

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Kevin Stewart
Official portrait, 2021
Minister for Transport
In office
29 March 2023 – 6 June 2023
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Preceded byJenny Gilruth
Succeeded byFiona Hyslop
Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care
In office
20 May 2021 – 29 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byClare Haughey
Succeeded byMaree Todd
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning
In office
18 May 2016 – 20 May 2021
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byMarco Biagi &
Margaret Burgess
Succeeded byBen Macpherson
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Aberdeen Central
Assumed office
6 May 2011
Preceded byLewis Macdonald
Majority6,594 (20.8%)
Personal details
Born (1968-06-03) 3 June 1968 (age 55)
Aberdeen, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Alma materUniversity of Aberdeen

Kevin Morrice Stewart (born 3 June 1968) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who served as Minister for Transport from 29 March 2023 to 6 June 2023. He is a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Aberdeen Central since 2011. He previously served as Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care from 2021 to 2023 and as Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning from 2016 to 2021.

Political career[edit]

Stewart was a local councillor in Aberdeen between 1999 and 2011, serving as Depute Leader of Aberdeen City Council from 2007. As a councillor, he chaired the Finance and Resources Committee and the North East of Scotland's Regional Transport Partnership, NESTRANS. He also served as the chair of the 3Rs Board.[1]

In the 2011 Scottish Parliament election he was elected to represent Aberdeen Central.

Stewart was the convener of the Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Regeneration Committee,[2] where he oversaw scrutiny of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Stewart was also a member of the Welfare Reform Committee and also sat on the Justice Sub-committee on Policing. He was also involved in the Cross-Party Groups on Oil & Gas, Scots language, Nuclear Disarmament, Malawi and Tibet. He also acted as Parliamentary Liaison Officer to Nicola Sturgeon from November 2014 until the dissolution of parliament in March 2016.

Stewart has lodged a number of motions in parliament in support of Votes at 16.

He made a speech in favour of same-sex marriage on 20 November 2013 at the Scottish Parliament Stage 1 Debate on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill,[3] in which he spoke about his experience of coming out as gay.[4][5]

Stewart stood again in 2016 and was re-elected with an increased majority.[6] He was appointed as Minister for Local Government and Housing on 18 May 2016 when Sturgeon announced her government.[7]

He was re-elected at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. He became Transport minister in the Yousaf government[8] In June 2023, he resigned as minister due to mental health problems.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New city primary welcomes pupils". BBC News. 20 August 2009.
  2. ^ "Previous MSPs: Session 4 (5 May 2011 – 23 March 2016): Stewart, Kevin". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Official Report". 24 January 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Scottish parliament welcomes LGBTI marriage date". KaleidoScot. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Scotland Election 2016: Aberdeen Central. Scottish Parliament Constituency". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Who is in the 2016 Scottish cabinet?". BBC News. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  8. ^ "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Transport minister Kevin Stewart quits due to poor mental health". BBC News. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.

External links[edit]

Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen Central
2011–present
Incumbent