Angela's Bio

Born and raised in West Lothian, Angela went to West Calder High School followed by Bo’ness Academy. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with a MA (Social Science), where she was also President of the Students Representative Council in 1991-2. She gained a Certificate of Welfare Studies from West Lothian College and a MSc in Social Work from the University of Stirling before working as a prison-based social worker and mental health officer until becoming an MSP in 2007. She lives in West Lothian with her husband and son and enjoys running, taking part in a few marathons each year, and reading about the ancient Near East and the current affairs of the Middle East.

Angela has been active in politics since she was a student at the University of Glasgow and, before becoming an MSP in 2007, she was a local councillor in West Lothian.

Angela has previously held the Scottish Government posts of Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities (2016-18), Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning (2014-16), Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women's Employment (2014), Minister for Youth Employment (2011-14), Minister for Children and Young People (2011), and Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning (2010-11), Minister for Drugs Policy in (2020-23) and appointed Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs March 2023.