Biography of Kenny MacAskill MSP

Mr MacAskill was an MSP for the Lothians Region from 1999 to 2007 and has been MSP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh since the General Election on May 3, 2007.

He was born in Edinburgh on April 28, 1958, and has previously been Shadow Justice and Home Affairs Minister. He was a long standing member of the SNP's NEC and has been National Treasurer and Vice Convener of Policy.

He was educated at Linlithgow Academy and Edinburgh University and was a senior partner in a law firm. In 2004 Kenny wrote a book entitled 'Building a Nation - Post Devolution Nationalism in Scotland'. He has since edited another book 'Agenda for a New Scotland - Visions of Scotland 2020' and has co-authored two books on the Scottish Diaspora, 'Global Scots - Voices From Afar' and 'Wherever the Saltire Flies, with the former First Minister Henry McLeish.

Mr MacAskill is married with two sons.