Elena Whitham

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Elena Whitham
MSP
Elena Whitham 2021.jpg
Affirming in 2021
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
Assumed office
8 May 2021
Preceded byJeane Freeman
Majority4,337 (12.2%)[1]
Councillor, East Ayrshire Council
Assumed office
1 October 2015
Constituency
Personal details
Born
Elena McLeod

1974 (age 47–48)[2]
Kilmarnock, Scotland[3]
Political partyScottish National Party
Children2[2]

Elena Whitham (née McLeod, born 1974)[2] is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley since May 2021.[4]

A childhood emigrant to Quebec, Whitham returned to Scotland in the 1990s. She worked for Scottish Women's Aid before becoming a councillor on East Ayrshire Council, and then Depute Leader of the council.

Background[]

Whitham was raised in Quebec, Canada, having emigrated from Scotland with her family at the age of six.[5] She attended university in Montreal, and campaigned in support of the 1995 Quebec independence referendum.[5] She had become a supporter of the principle of sovereignty after being given a copy of The Proclaimers album Sunshine on Leith in 1988.[5]

She earned a degree in journalism, and returned to Scotland in 1996 to work freelance for in local media.[5] She then worked in community support roles in Ayrshire, where her family has deep roots. In 2020 she said "my family were miners in Muirkirk and agricultural workers at many local farms from Sorn to Coylton."[2]

For over ten years she was a Scottish Women's Aid worker in Ayrshire, assisting victims of domestic abuse.[5]

Political career[]

On 1 October 2015 she was first elected to East Ayrshire Council in a by-election for the .[6] She became Depute Leader of the council, and was also national housing and homelessness lead for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.[7]

In October 2020 she was confirmed as a candidate for Scottish Parliament.[8] On 8 May 2021 she was elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley.[9][4] Her majority of 4,337 votes (12.2%) was lower that that achieved in 2016 by her predecessor Jeane Freeman.[1]

Personal life[]

Whitham is the mother of two children.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Paterson, Colin (8 May 2021). "SNP complete Ayrshire clean sweep as Elena Whitham takes Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley seat". Daily Record. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hilley, Sarah (1 September 2020). "Senior Councillor hoping to take Cumnock seat at next election". Cumnock Chronicle. Ardrossan. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  3. ^ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  4. ^ a b "Scottish Parliament election results – Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley Constituency 2021". East Ayrshire Council. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Whitham, Elena (7 November 2020). "Elena Whitham: From age 6 I knew something was wrong with UK politics". The National. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  6. ^ East Ayrshire By Election 2015 | Election Results | Ward 6 Irvine Valley | 01/10/2015, East Ayrshire Council
  7. ^ Boothman, John (9 May 2021). "Ones to watch in the Holyrood class of 2021". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  8. ^ Pengilly, Calam (21 October 2020). "Whitham confirmed as local SNP candidate for 2021 Holyrood elections". www.cumnockchronicle.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Scotland Election 2021 | Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.

External links[]

Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley
2021–present 		Incumbent
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