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]
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.
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]
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.
Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs (2023–present)
Following her appointment, Yousaf announced that both he and Constance had "agreed an ambitious range of outcomes" in order to modernise the Scottish justice system in order to "better focus on the needs of victims while ensuring rates of offending continue to be at historic lows". Additionally, Yousaf encouraged Constance to protect the independence of key justice agencies of the country as well as the Judiciary of Scotland. Additionally, Constance was tasked with reducing the court backlog created by the government restrictions introduced to mitigate Covid–19, work with both the Scottish Police Authority and Police Scotland to deliver a sustainable budget, conduct collaboration between Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to "further drive out inefficiencies and achieve operational efficiencies", responsible for the overview and implementation of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, updating of the Equally Safe strategy and support the implementation of "trauma-informed knowledge" and the associated skills framework for staff in justice organisations across Scotland.[25]
Constance was re–appointed Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs by new first minister John Swinney in May 2024.[26]
Personal life
Constance has been married to Garry Knox since 2000.[27] 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
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