Jack McConnell spoke on whether independence was the only stable future for Scotland at the University of East Anglia during the Autumn Semester of 2013-4.
Jack McConnell, Labour Peer, was First Minister of Scotland from 2001 to 2007.
Starting his career as a Mathematics teacher, he became a member of Stirling District Council 1984-1993 and Scotland’s youngest Council Leader 1990-1992.
He served as General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party 1992-1998 and was a leading member of the Scottish Constitutional Convention from 1989 to 1998. From 1999 to 2011, Jack McConnell was the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Motherwell and Wishaw. He was Scotland’s Minister for Finance 1999-2000 and Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs 2000-2001.
Lord McConnell was President of the Legislative Regions of Europe 2004, and served as the UK Special Representative for Peacebuilding 2008-2010. He was appointed to the House of Lords in June 2010, as Rt Hon Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale. He acts as a consultant adviser and guest lecturer to companies, universities and others.
His parliamentary interests include peacebuilding, international development, and support for vulnerable young people.
He chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region of Africa, is a Board member of the UK/Japan 21st Century Group, and is Trustee or Patron of several charities including the McConnell International Foundation.
