Jack McConnell

McConnell was born in Irvine and brought up on a sheep farm near Lamlash on the Isle of Arran and educated at Arran High School. He later went on to study at the University of Stirling, graduating with a BSc Dip Ed. He was also President of the Students' Association. After graduating in 1983 he began work as a mathematics teacher at Lornshill Academy in Alloa, Clackmannanshire (a position he retained throughout his subsequent council service). McConnell's political career began with his election to Stirling District Council. McConnell served on the council for eight years, while retaining his job at Lornshill. He served as Treasurer from 1988 until 1992, and was the Leader of the council from 1990 to 1992. McConnell became the General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party in 1992. His major breakthrough was in his handling of the 1997 General Election success, where Labour attained a large overall majority victory over the Conservatives. Together the Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party eliminated every seat the Conservatives held in Scotland. In 1998, he served as a member of the Scottish Constitutional Convention where he pioneered the Scottish devolution referendum success, establishing the Scottish Parliament. He is married to the actress Bridget McConnell, and has two adopted children by that marriage, Hannah and Mark. The Lady McConnell is Chief Executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow, Britain's largest and most comprehensive cultural and sports charitable organisation. In 2001, as he prepared to succeed Henry McLeish, he told a media conference some details regarding an extra-marital affair that he had been involved in seven years previously.