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{{Short description|Scottish politician (born 1951)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox MSP
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Alex Neil
| name = Alex Neil
| image = AlexNeilMSP20110507.jpg
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]
⚫
| caption =
| image = Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities (2).jpg
⚫
| caption = Neil in 2009
| office = [[Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights]]
| office = [[Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights]]
| term_start = 21 November 2014
| term_start = 21 November 2014
| term_end = 18 May 2016
| term_end = 18 May 2016
| firstminister = [[Nicola Sturgeon]]
| firstminister = [[Nicola Sturgeon]]
| predecessor = ''Office established''
| predecessor = [[Shona Robison]]
| successor = [[Angela Constance]]
| successor = [[Angela Constance]]
| office1 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]]
| office1 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]]
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| constituency_MP2 = [[Airdrie and Shotts (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Airdrie and Shotts]]
| constituency_MP2 = [[Airdrie and Shotts (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Airdrie and Shotts]]
| parliament2 = Scottish
| parliament2 = Scottish
| majority2 = 6,192 (23.3%)
| term_start2 = 6 May 2011
| term_start2 = 6 May 2011
| term_end2 =
| term_end2 = 25 March 2021
| predecessor2 = [[Karen Whitefield]]
| predecessor2 = [[Karen Whitefield]]
| successor2 =
| successor2 = [[Neil Gray]]
| constituency_MP3 = [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}}
| constituency_MP3 = [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}}
| parliament3 = Scottish
| parliament3 = Scottish
| majority3 =
| term_start3 = 6 May 1999
| term_start3 = 6 May 1999
| term_end3 = 6 May 2011
| term_end3 = 6 May 2011
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| death_place =
| death_place =
| birthname =
| birthname =
| nationality =[[United Kingdom|Scottish]]
| nationality = [[Scottish people|Scottish]]
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] {{small|(1967-1976)}}<br>[[Scottish Labour Party (1976)|Scottish Labour Party]] {{small|(1976–1985)}}<br>[[Scottish National Party]] {{small|(1985–present)}}
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] {{small|(1967–76)}}<br />[[Scottish Labour Party (1976)|SLP]] {{small|(1976–81)}}<br />[[Scottish National Party|SNP]] {{small|(1985–present)}}
| spouse =Isabella Kerr
| spouse =Isabella Kerr
| relations =
| relations =
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| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Alexander Neil''' (born 22 August 1951) is a Scottish politician who served as [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport|Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] from 2012 to 2014 and [[Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government|Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights]] from 2014 to 2016. A member of the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP), he has been [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for the [[Airdrie and Shotts (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Airdrie and Shotts]] constituency since [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011]].
'''Alexander Neil''' (born 22 August 1951) is a Scottish politician who served as [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport|Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] from 2012 to 2014 and [[Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government|Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights]] from 2014 to 2016. A member of the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP), he was the [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for the [[Airdrie and Shotts (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Airdrie and Shotts]] constituency from [[2011 Scottish Parliament election|2011]] until his retirement in 2021.


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
Neil was born in [[Ayrshire Central Hospital]], [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], the son of Margaret (née Gunning) and Alexander Neil snr, a coalminer. He was brought up in [[Patna, East Ayrshire|Patna]], [[Ayrshire]], and became involved in [[Labour movement|Labour politics]], joining the [[Scottish Labour|Labour Party]] in 1967, aged 16. He was educated at [[Ayr Academy]], before attending the [[University of Dundee]], where he studied [[economics]]. He served as chairman of the [[Scottish Organisation of Labour Students]] and later the UK-wide [[Labour Students|National Organisation of Labour Students]].
Neil was born in [[Ayrshire Central Hospital]], [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]], the son of Margaret (née Gunning) and Alexander Neil Sr., a coalminer. He was brought up in [[Patna, East Ayrshire|Patna]], [[Ayrshire]], and became involved in [[Labour movement|Labour politics]], joining the [[Scottish Labour|Labour Party]] in 1967, aged 16. He was educated at [[Ayr Academy]], before attending the [[University of Dundee]], where he studied [[economics]]. He served as chairman of the [[Scottish Organisation of Labour Students]] and later the UK-wide [[Labour Students|National Organisation of Labour Students]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,seeking-equality-interview-with-alex-neil_11112.htm|title=Seeking equality: Interview with Alex Neil|first=Liam|last=Kirkaldy|date=1 January 2015|website=Holyrood}}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==


===Early years===
===Early years===
After graduating with an [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|MA]] (Hons) degree in 1973,<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Neil, Alexander, (born 22 Aug. 1951), Member (SNP) Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Parliament, since 2011 (Central Scotland, 1999–2011)|date=2007-12-01|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-29277|work=Who's Who|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u29277|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> Neil was appointed as the first-ever [[Research assistant|research officer]] for the [[Organisation of Scottish Labour|Scottish Executive Committee of the Labour Party]]. In 1976, Neil, along with [[Jim Sillars]] and [[John Robertson (Scottish Labour Party founder)|John Robertson]], left the Labour Party to form the breakaway group, the [[Scottish Labour Party (1976-1981)|Scottish Labour Party]] (SLP). Neil served as General Secretary of the SLP from 1976 to 1979. By 1979 the SLP had collapsed and Neil fell out of active politics until 1985 when he joined the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP).
After graduating with an [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|MA]] (Hons) degree in 1973,<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Neil, Alexander, (born 22 Aug. 1951), Member (SNP) Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Parliament, since 2011 (Central Scotland, 1999–2011)|date=2007-12-01|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-29277|work=Who's Who|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u29277|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> Neil was appointed as the first-ever [[Research assistant|research officer]] for the [[Organisation of Scottish Labour|Scottish Executive Committee of the Labour Party]]. In 1976, Neil, along with [[Jim Sillars]] and [[John Robertson (Scottish Labour Party founder)|John Robertson]], left the Labour Party to form a breakaway group, the [[Scottish Labour Party (1976-1981)|Scottish Labour Party]] (SLP). Neil served as General Secretary of the SLP from 1976 to 1979. By 1979 the SLP had collapsed and Neil fell out of active politics until 1985 when he joined the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/snp-veteran-alex-neil-stand-22564877|title=SNP veteran Alex Neil to stand down as an MSP at next year's Holyrood election|first=Chris|last=McCall|date=23 August 2020|website=Daily Record}}</ref>


===SNP===
===SNP===
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In [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]] he was elected SNP regional list [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]] for [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]] in the first [[Scottish Parliament]].
In [[1999 Scottish Parliament election|1999]] he was elected SNP regional list [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]] for [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]] in the first [[Scottish Parliament]].


The following year he stood unsuccessfully in the hard-fought [[2000 Scottish National Party leadership election|contest for the leadership of the SNP]] against [[John Swinney]]. Thereafter he was appointed chair of the Scottish Parliament's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, a role he kept on until 2003.
The following year he stood unsuccessfully in the hard-fought [[2000 Scottish National Party leadership election|contest for the leadership of the SNP]] against [[John Swinney]].<ref name="Veteran"/> Thereafter he was appointed chair of the Scottish Parliament's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, a role he kept on until 2003.


In [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003]] he was re-elected as SNP MSP for Central Scotland to the Scottish Parliament.
In [[2003 Scottish Parliament election|2003]] he was re-elected as SNP MSP for Central Scotland to the Scottish Parliament.


In July 2004, Neil announced that he would not be a candidate in the impending contest for the leadership of the SNP, despite the fact that he believed he had considerable support within the party. He said that the reason for his decision was that senior figures in the party (such as MSP [[Fergus Ewing]] and former SNP leader [[Alex Salmond]]) had made it clear publicly that they would not work with him as leader.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12500732.Neil_drops_out_of_SNP_leadership_race_with_attack_on_colleagues_who__apos_undermined_apos__him/ |title=Neil drops out of SNP leadership race with attack on colleagues who 'undermined' him |work=The Herald |date=5 July 2004 |accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref>
In July 2004, Neil announced that he would not be a candidate in the [[2004 Scottish National Party leadership election|impending contest for the leadership of the SNP]], despite the fact that he believed he had considerable support within the party. He said that the reason for his decision was that senior figures in the party (such as MSP [[Fergus Ewing]] and former SNP leader [[Alex Salmond]]) had made it clear publicly that they would not work with him as leader.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12500732.neil-drops-out-of-snp-leadership-race-with-attack-on-colleagues-who-undermined-him/ |title=Neil drops out of SNP leadership race with attack on colleagues who 'undermined' him |work=The Herald |date=5 July 2004 |access-date=2 February 2016}}</ref> Neil later endorsed Salmond, who he claimed would "unite the party" and was "best placed to maximise the SNP vote".<ref name="Veteran">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/veteran-left-wing-msp-to-support-salmond-qj0dsn6sk9d|title=Veteran left wing MSP to support Salmond|last=English|first=Shirley|date=11 August 2004|work=The Times|access-date=24 February 2023|url-access=subscription}}</ref>


In 2004 Neil was appointed chair of the Enterprise and Culture Committee. He was also a co-convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on the Scottish Economy.
In 2004 Neil was appointed chair of the Enterprise and Culture Committee. He was also a co-convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on the Scottish Economy.


Neil emerged as a leading supporter of former policewoman [[Shirley McKie]] as she bid to win compensation from the [[Scottish Government]] following her acquittal from perjury charges.
Neil emerged as a leading supporter of former policewoman [[Shirley McKie]] as she bid to win compensation from the [[Scottish Government]] following her acquittal from perjury charges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5100590.stm|title=Report reveals print 'negligence'|date=21 June 2006|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4689218.stm|title='Relief' over fingerprint verdict|date=7 February 2006|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsnet.scot/archive/forensics-under-fire-scottish-fingerprint-inquiry-set-to-publish-its-findings/|title=Forensics under fire: Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry set to publish its findings|first=Paul|last=Kavanagh|date=5 December 2011}}</ref>


He was again re-elected as a regional MSP for Central Scotland in [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]]. He sat on the European and External Relations Committee and the Finance Committee from 2007–2009, upon his promotion to Scottish Minister.
He was again re-elected as a regional MSP for Central Scotland in [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007]]. He sat on the European and External Relations Committee and the Finance Committee from 2007 to 2009, upon his promotion to Scottish Minister.


He voted for Brexit in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU]], and is the only SNP MSP to publicly admit doing so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37870167|title=SNP ex-minister Alex Neil voted for Brexit|date=4 November 2016|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
He voted for [[Brexit]] in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU]], a choice he made less than two weeks before the vote, and is the only SNP MSP to publicly admit doing so.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,former-cabinet-secretary-alex-neil-reveals-a-number-of-snp-msps-voted-for-brexit_12624.htm|title=Former cabinet secretary Alex Neil reveals 'a number' of SNP MSPs voted for Brexit|last=Schofield|first=Kevin|date=4 November 2016|work=Holyrood|access-date=24 February 2023}}</ref> "I'd only recently left the SNP government and I wasn't going to rock the boat and I quite frankly didn't think it was all that important for me to say that at the time anyway," he told [[BBC Radio Scotland]]. "The party's position - the government's position - was very clear and quite frankly, out of loyalty, I didn't think it was right for me at that stage to say so."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37870167|title=Former Scottish government minister Alex Neil voted for Brexit|date=4 November 2016|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

⚫
In August 2020 he announced that he would be standing down as an MSP at the upcoming [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|2021 Holyrood election]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cochrane |first1=Angus |title=SNP veteran Alex Neil to stand down as MSP at 2021 Holyrood election |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18670081.snp-veteran-alex-neil-stand-msp-2021-holyrood-election/ |website=[[The National (Scotland)|The National]] |accessdate=23 August 2020 |language=en |date=23 August 2020}}</ref>


===Government Minister===
===Government Minister===
In the first reshuffle of the SNP Government since it took office in 2007, Neil was appointed as the [[Minister for Housing and Communities]] in February 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6665051.stm |title=Cabinet and ministers at-a-glance |work=BBC News |date=8 December 2009}}</ref> In 2011 Neil defeated [[Karen Whitefield]] in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency, gaining a majority of 2001, a 5.5% swing from Labour to SNP.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/36070.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Vote 2011: Airdrie & Shotts |date=6 May 2011}}</ref> He was promoted to the [[Scottish Cabinet]] on 19 May 2011 by [[Alex Salmond]] to become the new [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment]] after the SNP's landslide win in the 2011 Scottish election.
In the first reshuffle of the SNP Government since it took office in 2007, Neil was appointed as the [[Minister for Housing and Communities]] in February 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6665051.stm |title=Cabinet and ministers at-a-glance |work=BBC News |date=8 December 2009}}</ref> In 2011 Neil defeated [[Karen Whitefield]] in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency, gaining a majority of 2001, a 5.5% swing from Labour to SNP.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/36070.stm |publisher=BBC |title=Vote 2011: Airdrie & Shotts |date=6 May 2011}}</ref> He was promoted to the [[Scottish Cabinet]] on 19 May 2011 by [[Alex Salmond]] to become the new [[Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment]] after the SNP's landslide win in the 2011 Scottish election.


He was moved from that post to the post of [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] in September 2012. A month into this post, in an interview with ''[[Scotland on Sunday]]'' Neil spoke about the possibility of abortion laws being made in Scotland rather than Westminster, saying that politicians would have to consider the medical evidence.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/health-secretary-alex-neil-signals-abortion-law-change-after-independence-1-2564884 |title=Health Secretary Alex Neil signals abortion law 'change after independence' |first=Tom |last=Peterkin |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]] |date=7 October 2012 |accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref>
He was moved from that post to the post of [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] in September 2012. A month into this post, in an interview with ''[[Scotland on Sunday]]'' Neil spoke about the possibility of abortion laws being made in Scotland rather than Westminster, saying that politicians would have to consider the medical evidence.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/health-secretary-alex-neil-signals-abortion-law-change-after-independence-1-2564884 |title=Health Secretary Alex Neil signals abortion law 'change after independence' |first=Tom |last=Peterkin |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]] |date=7 October 2012 |access-date=2 February 2016}}</ref>


In May 2014 Neil survived a vote of no confidence 57-67. Opposition MSPs had alleged he had acted improperly by cancelling changes to mental health provision when he took up his post as Health Secretary.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13161547.SNP_majority_helps_Neil_fight_off_cross_party_no_confidence_vote/ |title=SNP majority helps Neil fight off cross-party no confidence vote |work=Herald Scotland |date=21 May 2014 |accessdate=2 February 2016}}</ref> After [[Nicola Sturgeon]] became [[First Minister of Scotland]] in November 2014, Neil was appointed to the new post of [[Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights]]. He resigned from the Government on 18 May 2016.
In May 2014 Neil survived a vote of no confidence 57-67. Opposition MSPs had alleged he had acted improperly by cancelling changes to mental health provision when he took up his post as Health Secretary.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13161547.SNP_majority_helps_Neil_fight_off_cross_party_no_confidence_vote/ |title=SNP majority helps Neil fight off cross-party no confidence vote |work=Herald Scotland |date=21 May 2014 |access-date=2 February 2016}}</ref> After [[Nicola Sturgeon]] became [[First Minister of Scotland]] in November 2014, Neil was appointed to the new post of [[Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights]]. He resigned from the Government on 18 May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tonner |first=Judith |date=2016-05-18 |title=Alex Neil resigns from Scottish Government cabinet |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/alex-neil-resigns-scottish-government-7995741 |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}</ref>

===Retirement===
⚫
In August 2020 he announced that he would be standing down as an MSP at the upcoming [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|2021 Holyrood election]]. In a statement, he said: "After much soul searching, I have decided that to commit to another five years as an MSP would mean not having the time to pursue all the other things in life I want to do. I also owe it to my wife and family to spend more time with them. I have two beautiful granddaughters who miss me when I am away so often on parliamentary and constituency business. I want to spend more time with them."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Angus |title=SNP veteran Alex Neil to stand down as MSP at 2021 Holyrood election |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18670081.snp-veteran-alex-neil-stand-msp-2021-holyrood-election/ |website=[[The National (Scotland)|The National]] |access-date=23 August 2020 |language=en |date=23 August 2020}}</ref>

In January 2023, Neil stated that Holyrood contained "too many careerists" and argued that reforms were needed to improve the quality of debate in the Chamber. He told ''[[The Scottish Sun]]'': "We have very few people in the Parliament, in any of the parties, who (are) prepared to stand up and act independently of their party leadership. I think any parliament worthy of the name has to encourage people who are dissenting voices, they've got to be given their view."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23236335.ex-snp-minister-alex-neil-scottish-parliament-full-careerists/|title=Ex SNP minister Alex Neil: Scottish Parliament is full of careerists|last=Young|first=Gregor|date=8 January 2023|work=The National|accessdate=9 January 2023|url-access=subscription}}</ref>


== Awards ==
== Awards ==


Neil has been honoured three times in the Scottish Politician of the Year awards organised by ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' newspaper. In 2005, he was named "Donald Dewar Debater of the Year"; in 2017, he won the award in the "Committee Member of the Year" category; and in 2020, he was designated "best of the best" in the "Donald Dewar Debater of the Year" category.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gordon |first1=Tom |title=Witty, sharp and insightful ... Neil wins best debater in Holyrood |journal=The Herald |date=15 December 2020 |page=8}}</ref>
Neil was honoured three times in the Scottish Politician of the Year awards organised by ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' newspaper. In 2005, he was named "Donald Dewar Debater of the Year"; in 2017, he won the award in the "Committee Member of the Year" category; and in 2020, he was designated "best of the best" in the "Donald Dewar Debater of the Year" category.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gordon |first1=Tom |title=Witty, sharp and insightful ... Neil wins best debater in Holyrood |journal=The Herald |date=15 December 2020 |page=8}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
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== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|40em}}


==External links==
==External links==
⚫
* {{SP-MSP}}
*[http://www.parliament.scot/msps/currentmsps/alex-neil-msp.aspx Biography pages] at Scottish Parliament
*[https://twitter.com/AlexNeilSNP Alex Neil] on [[Twitter]]
*[https://twitter.com/AlexNeilSNP Alex Neil] on [[Twitter]]


{{s-start}}
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|title=[[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] for {{nowrap|[[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]}}
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{{Former SNP MSPs|state=collapsed}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Neil, Alex}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neil, Alex}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from East Ayrshire]]
[[Category:People from Patna, East Ayrshire]]
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[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–]]
[[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021]]

Latest revision as of 23:21, 2 October 2024

Alex Neil
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights
In office
21 November 2014 – 18 May 2016
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byShona Robison
Succeeded byAngela Constance
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
In office
5 September 2012 – 21 November 2014
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byNicola Sturgeon
Succeeded byShona Robison
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Airdrie and Shotts
In office
6 May 2011 – 25 March 2021
Preceded byKaren Whitefield
Succeeded byNeil Gray
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Central Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office
6 May 1999 – 6 May 2011
Personal details
Born (1951-08-22) 22 August 1951 (age 73)
Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland
Political partyLabour (1967–76)
SLP (1976–81)
SNP (1985–present)
SpouseIsabella Kerr
Children1
Alma materUniversity of Dundee
OccupationPolitical researcher; Businessman; Economic consultant

Alexander Neil (born 22 August 1951) is a Scottish politician who served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing from 2012 to 2014 and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights from 2014 to 2016. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Airdrie and Shotts constituency from 2011 until his retirement in 2021.

Early life and education

[edit]

Neil was born in Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine, the son of Margaret (née Gunning) and Alexander Neil Sr., a coalminer. He was brought up in Patna, Ayrshire, and became involved in Labour politics, joining the Labour Party in 1967, aged 16. He was educated at Ayr Academy, before attending the University of Dundee, where he studied economics. He served as chairman of the Scottish Organisation of Labour Students and later the UK-wide National Organisation of Labour Students.[1]

Political career

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Early years

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After graduating with an MA (Hons) degree in 1973,[2] Neil was appointed as the first-ever research officer for the Scottish Executive Committee of the Labour Party. In 1976, Neil, along with Jim Sillars and John Robertson, left the Labour Party to form a breakaway group, the Scottish Labour Party (SLP). Neil served as General Secretary of the SLP from 1976 to 1979. By 1979 the SLP had collapsed and Neil fell out of active politics until 1985 when he joined the Scottish National Party (SNP).[3]

SNP

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Neil would go on to become the SNP's Publicity Director, and then in charge of the party's policy, as well as a candidate in the 1989 Glasgow Central by-election and candidate in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency in the 1992 and 1997 general elections.

Member of the Scottish Parliament

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In 1999 he was elected SNP regional list MSP for Central Scotland in the first Scottish Parliament.

The following year he stood unsuccessfully in the hard-fought contest for the leadership of the SNP against John Swinney.[4] Thereafter he was appointed chair of the Scottish Parliament's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, a role he kept on until 2003.

In 2003 he was re-elected as SNP MSP for Central Scotland to the Scottish Parliament.

In July 2004, Neil announced that he would not be a candidate in the impending contest for the leadership of the SNP, despite the fact that he believed he had considerable support within the party. He said that the reason for his decision was that senior figures in the party (such as MSP Fergus Ewing and former SNP leader Alex Salmond) had made it clear publicly that they would not work with him as leader.[5] Neil later endorsed Salmond, who he claimed would "unite the party" and was "best placed to maximise the SNP vote".[4]

In 2004 Neil was appointed chair of the Enterprise and Culture Committee. He was also a co-convenor of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on the Scottish Economy.

Neil emerged as a leading supporter of former policewoman Shirley McKie as she bid to win compensation from the Scottish Government following her acquittal from perjury charges.[6][7][8]

He was again re-elected as a regional MSP for Central Scotland in 2007. He sat on the European and External Relations Committee and the Finance Committee from 2007 to 2009, upon his promotion to Scottish Minister.

He voted for Brexit in the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, a choice he made less than two weeks before the vote, and is the only SNP MSP to publicly admit doing so.[9] "I'd only recently left the SNP government and I wasn't going to rock the boat and I quite frankly didn't think it was all that important for me to say that at the time anyway," he told BBC Radio Scotland. "The party's position - the government's position - was very clear and quite frankly, out of loyalty, I didn't think it was right for me at that stage to say so."[10]

Government Minister

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In the first reshuffle of the SNP Government since it took office in 2007, Neil was appointed as the Minister for Housing and Communities in February 2009.[11] In 2011 Neil defeated Karen Whitefield in the Airdrie and Shotts constituency, gaining a majority of 2001, a 5.5% swing from Labour to SNP.[12] He was promoted to the Scottish Cabinet on 19 May 2011 by Alex Salmond to become the new Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment after the SNP's landslide win in the 2011 Scottish election.

He was moved from that post to the post of Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in September 2012. A month into this post, in an interview with Scotland on Sunday Neil spoke about the possibility of abortion laws being made in Scotland rather than Westminster, saying that politicians would have to consider the medical evidence.[13]

In May 2014 Neil survived a vote of no confidence 57-67. Opposition MSPs had alleged he had acted improperly by cancelling changes to mental health provision when he took up his post as Health Secretary.[14] After Nicola Sturgeon became First Minister of Scotland in November 2014, Neil was appointed to the new post of Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights. He resigned from the Government on 18 May 2016.[15]

Retirement

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In August 2020 he announced that he would be standing down as an MSP at the upcoming 2021 Holyrood election. In a statement, he said: "After much soul searching, I have decided that to commit to another five years as an MSP would mean not having the time to pursue all the other things in life I want to do. I also owe it to my wife and family to spend more time with them. I have two beautiful granddaughters who miss me when I am away so often on parliamentary and constituency business. I want to spend more time with them."[16]

In January 2023, Neil stated that Holyrood contained "too many careerists" and argued that reforms were needed to improve the quality of debate in the Chamber. He told The Scottish Sun: "We have very few people in the Parliament, in any of the parties, who (are) prepared to stand up and act independently of their party leadership. I think any parliament worthy of the name has to encourage people who are dissenting voices, they've got to be given their view."[17]

Awards

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Neil was honoured three times in the Scottish Politician of the Year awards organised by The Herald newspaper. In 2005, he was named "Donald Dewar Debater of the Year"; in 2017, he won the award in the "Committee Member of the Year" category; and in 2020, he was designated "best of the best" in the "Donald Dewar Debater of the Year" category.[18]

Personal life

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Neil is married to Isabella Kerr and together they have one son.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kirkaldy, Liam (1 January 2015). "Seeking equality: Interview with Alex Neil". Holyrood.
  2. ^ a b "Neil, Alexander, (born 22 Aug. 1951), Member (SNP) Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Parliament, since 2011 (Central Scotland, 1999–2011)", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2007, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u29277, retrieved 31 August 2019
  3. ^ McCall, Chris (23 August 2020). "SNP veteran Alex Neil to stand down as an MSP at next year's Holyrood election". Daily Record.
  4. ^ a b English, Shirley (11 August 2004). "Veteran left wing MSP to support Salmond". The Times. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Neil drops out of SNP leadership race with attack on colleagues who 'undermined' him". The Herald. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Report reveals print 'negligence'". 21 June 2006 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  7. ^ "'Relief' over fingerprint verdict". 7 February 2006 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  8. ^ Kavanagh, Paul (5 December 2011). "Forensics under fire: Scottish Fingerprint Inquiry set to publish its findings".
  9. ^ Schofield, Kevin (4 November 2016). "Former cabinet secretary Alex Neil reveals 'a number' of SNP MSPs voted for Brexit". Holyrood. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Former Scottish government minister Alex Neil voted for Brexit". 4 November 2016 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  11. ^ "Cabinet and ministers at-a-glance". BBC News. 8 December 2009.
  12. ^ "Vote 2011: Airdrie & Shotts". BBC. 6 May 2011.
  13. ^ Peterkin, Tom (7 October 2012). "Health Secretary Alex Neil signals abortion law 'change after independence'". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  14. ^ "SNP majority helps Neil fight off cross-party no confidence vote". Herald Scotland. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  15. ^ Tonner, Judith (18 May 2016). "Alex Neil resigns from Scottish Government cabinet". Daily Record. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  16. ^ Cochrane, Angus (23 August 2020). "SNP veteran Alex Neil to stand down as MSP at 2021 Holyrood election". The National. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  17. ^ Young, Gregor (8 January 2023). "Ex SNP minister Alex Neil: Scottish Parliament is full of careerists". The National. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  18. ^ Gordon, Tom (15 December 2020). "Witty, sharp and insightful ... Neil wins best debater in Holyrood". The Herald: 8.
[edit]
Scottish Parliament
New parliament
 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland
1999–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Airdrie and Shotts
2011–2021 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byas Minister for Communities and Sport Minister for Housing and Communities
2009–2011 		Succeeded byas Minister for Housing and Transport
New office Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
New office Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners' Rights
2014–2016 		Succeeded by
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