Elena Whitham to succeed Ash Regan as minister

Elena Whitham MSP has been appointed Minister for Community Safety by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, following the resignation of Ash Regan over the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.

SNP MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Ms Whitham's responsibilities will include the legal profession and its regulation, legal aid, access to justice, civil law reform, courts and tribunals, community safety, the strategic approach to women in the justice system, and other matters.

Her appointment will be put to the Parliament and the King, and if approved she will take up the post, reporting to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans.

Prior to her election, Ms Whitham worked in community youth and homelessness roles and ran three businesses as a sole trader, in addition to spending over a decade as a Women’s Aid worker in Ayrshire. More recently, she served as the depute leader of East Ayrshire Council and was COSLA’s Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, where her remit included housing and homelessness.