These figures, based on data for 2013, show that the employment prospects are improving across much of Scotland, with women’s employment driving much of this improvement. “They also show that Scotland continues to outperformed the UK across all headline labour market indicators, with a lower unemployment rate, higher employment rate and lower economic inactivity rate.[9]
Previously, Constance was a junior Scottish cabinet member.[10]
On 30 September 2014, Constance officially launched her bid to become the Depute leader of the Scottish National Party,[14][15] competing against Stewart Hosie and Keith Brown.[16] It was later revealed by Constance that she was "not seeking the position of Deputy First Minister".[17]
The results of the election were announced at the SNP Autumn Conference on 14 November, with Constance losing the contest to Stewart Hosie, after being eliminated in the first round.[18]
Cabinet Secretary for Education
Following the election of Nicola Sturgeon as the First Minister, in November 2014, Constance was promoted as the Cabinet Secretary for Education within the Scottish Cabinet.
Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities
In December 2020 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sacked Joe FitzPatrick as Public Health Minister after official figures revealed that 1,264 people in Scotland had died from drugs in 2019. The number of deaths was three and a half times higher the figure for England and Wales and by some margin the highest in Europe.[19] Sturgeon described the SNP's record on drugs as "indefensible"[20] and Constance was given a full time ministerial portfolio with responsibility for the crisis.[19] The appointment was not universally welcomed; journalist Alex Massie opined in The Times that: "It says something, mind you, about the depth of talent available to Sturgeon that... she felt compelled to hand the drugs brief to Angela Constance, a minister she had previously demoted. Twice."[21]
At the Scottish Parliament election on 6 May 2021, Constance was re-elected as MSP for Almond Valley. On 19 May 2021, she was re-appointed to the new government, retaining the post of Minister for Drugs Policy.[22]
In November 2023, Constance was appointed as the SNP's Business Convener (party chair), succeeding Kirsten Oswald.[23] The Business Convener is responsible for chairing the SNP's Party Conference and the National Executive Committee; overseeing the party's management, administration and operations, as well as the coordination of election campaigns; working with the Chief Executive of Headquarters in setting priorities.
Personal life
Constance has been married to Garry Knox since 2000.[24] After her election to Holyrood, Constance announced she was expecting her first child, Cyrus in October 2007.
References
^Birth Certificate of Angela Constance, 1970, 669/2 108 Blackburn — National Records of Scotland
^Birth certificate of Simon Constance, 1948, 672/ 428 Uphall — National Records of Scotland
^Marriage certificate of Simon Constance and Mary Baird Colquhoun, 1970, 685/1 26 Haymarket