Siobhian Brown Explained

Siobhian Brown
Honorific-Suffix:MSP
Office:Minister for Victims and Community Safety
Term Start:29 March 2023
Predecessor:Elena Whitham
Birth Place:London, England[1]
Birth Date:20 October 1972[2] [3]
Party:Scottish National Party
Office1:Convener of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee
Termstart1:23 June 2021
Termend1:30 March 2023
Office2:Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Ayr
Predecessor2:John Scott
Majority2:170 (0.4%)
Termstart2:7 May 2021
Firstminister:Humza Yousaf
John Swinney
Deputy1:Murdo Fraser

Siobhian Brown (born 20 October 1972) is a politician in Scotland, serving as Minister for Victims and Community Safety since 2023[4] and a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Ayr since 2021.[5] A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she was a councillor for the Ayr West ward of South Ayrshire Council.[6] [7]

Political career

Brown joined the Scottish National Party the day after the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. She was elected to South Ayrshire Council for the Ayr West ward in the 2017 Scottish local elections.

Scottish Parliament

In November 2020, she was selected as the SNP's candidate for the Ayr constituency in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[8] In May 2021, she was elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament for Ayr with a majority of 170 votes, defeating the incumbent John Scott who had been the Scottish Conservatives' longest serving MSP.[9]

Brown has served as Convener of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee since June 2021.[10]

In 2023 Brown was appointed as Minister for Victims and Community Safety by Humza Yousaf.[11] [12]

Personal life

Born in London to Scottish parents, Brown emigrated to Sydney, Australia when she was three years old.[1] After working in Spain, Italy, London and Scotland,[13] she moved to Ayrshire—where her parents are from—in 1999.[14] Brown has four children (including a step-daughter),[1] with her youngest being born when she was 44 years old. In 2016 she founded the South Ayrshire Babybank and remains a volunteer for the organisation.[15]

Notes and References

  1. News: 21 January 2022 . Getting to Know You - Siobhian Brown MSP . Anderson . Joseph . 12 December 2022 . Holyrood . en.
  2. News: Hilley . Sarah . Politician enters SNP selection race to unseat Ayr Tory . 8 May 2021 . Daily Record . 25 September 2020 . en.
  3. Siobhianayr. Siobhian Brown MSP. 1583052599267192832. Thank you ❤️. 3 January 2022.
  4. Web site: Full ministerial team confirmed . 2023-04-01 . www.gov.scot . en.
  5. Web site: South Scotland Region: Statement of Persons and Parties nominated and Notice of Poll. Argyll and Bute Council. 31 March 2021. 1 April 2021. 7 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210507163755/https://beta.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/media/1818/Notice-of-Poll-Regional/pdf/Notice_of_Poll_Regional.pdf?m=637528918341970000. dead.
  6. News: Brown. Siobhian. 21 November 2020. Ayr SNP candidate Siobhian Brown: 'Independence is crucial for every child's future'. en. The National. 7 May 2021.
  7. Web site: Ayr Constituency: Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll. South Ayrshire Council. 31 March 2021. 1 April 2021. 7 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210507163753/https://beta.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/media/1816/Notice-of-Poll-and-Situation-of-Polling-Stations-Constituency/pdf/Notice_of_Poll_and_Situation_of_Polling_Stations.pdf?m=637528039651700000. dead.
  8. News: Hilley . Sarah . 10 November 2020 . MSP candidates chosen for election battle . 3 January 2023 . Daily Record . en.
  9. News: Rodger. Hannah. 7 May 2021. SNP take Ayr from Conservatives in second gain. en. The Herald. Herald and Times Group. Newsquest Media Group. 7 May 2021.
  10. Web site: Session 6 COVID19 Recovery Committee. 2021-06-23. www.parliament.scot. en.
  11. Web site: Paton . Craig . 2023-03-29 . Yousaf says SNP is ‘united’ as he appoints supporters to his first Cabinet . 2023-03-30 . Evening Standard . en.
  12. Web site: Behan . Paul . 2023-03-30 . Siobhian Brown and Elena Whitham given Scots Government roles . 2023-03-30 . Daily Record . en.
  13. https://www.snp.org/your-team/siobhian-brown/
  14. News: Duffy. Judith. 28 March 2021. SNP hopeful embarks on one of the toughest challenges in Scotland. en. The National. 7 May 2021.
  15. Web site: Healey. Derek. SNP candidate Siobhian Brown in age discrimination row. 2021-05-06. 2021-05-12. The Courier. en-GB.