The Right Honourable Jack Wilson McConnell (born June 30 1960) became the First Minister of Scotland in 2001. He is the leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, and the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Motherwell and Wishaw.
McConnell was born in Irvine, Scotland, and grew up on the Isle of Arran. He attended the University of Stirling, where he was elected head of the Student's Association. He graduated with a BSc Dip Ed and went on to teach mathematics at Lornshill Academy in Alloa from 1983 to 1992. In 1984, aged 22, McConnell was elected to Stirling District Council where he served for 8 years.
His confident, or brash, demeanor in politics has earned him the nickname "Jumping Jack Flash". This has allowed him to rise in Labour politics in Central Scotland to his present position at its summit. An example of his ability to manage his public image was the timing of his statement that he had been unfaithful to his wife, Bridget. He admitted this at the start of his leadership campaign, which prevented the tabloid newspapers from raking up any gossip about his private life during the campaign.
This "Jack the lad" persona stands in contrast to perceptions of his poor public speaking and debating abilities. He is also perceived in some quarters to lack coherent, long term goals to improve the lives of his fellow Scots.
He is a member of Amnesty International.
See also
