Gillian Martin

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Gillian Martin

| honorific-suffix = MSP

| image = Minister for Energy Gillian Martin (52780729517) (cropped).jpg

| office1 = Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Aberdeenshire East

| term_start1 = 6 May 2016

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Alex Salmond

| successor1 =

| majority1 = 1,889 (4.6%)

| residence = Newmachar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Scottish National Party

| alma_mater = University of Glasgow

| website = {{URL|https://gillianmartinmsp.com/}}

| office = Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy

| termlabel = Acting

| firstminister = John Swinney

| term_start = 1 July 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor = Mairi McAllan

| successor =

| office2 = Minister for Climate Action{{efn|name=Climate Minister|As Minister for Energy from March 2023 until June 2023; Minister for Energy and the Environment from June 2023 until February 2024; and Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work from February 2024 until May 2024.}}

| termstart2 = 29 March 2023

| termend2 = 1 July 2024

| predecessor2 = Office established

| successor2 = Alasdair Allan

| deputy2 =

| firstminister2 = Humza Yousaf
John Swinney

}}

Gillian Anne Martin is a Scottish politician who has served as Minister for Climate Action since 2023,{{efn|name=Climate Minister}} and as acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy since July 2024, filling the latter role on an interim basis for the duration of Màiri McAllan's maternity leave.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/cabinet-secretary-for-net-zero-and-energy/|title=Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy|access-date=2 September 2024|publisher=Scottish Government}} A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Aberdeenshire East since 2016.{{Cite web|title=Session 6 Health Social Care and Sport Committee|url=https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-health-social-care-and-sport-committee|access-date=2021-06-22|website=www.parliament.scot|language=en}}

Early life and career

Martin grew up in Newburgh{{cite news |url=http://www.inverurieherald.co.uk/news/local-headlines/race-to-succeed-salmond-1-3826416 |title=Race to succeed Salmond |work=Inverurie Herald |date=12 July 2015 |access-date=5 May 2016}} and was educated at Ellon Academy.{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Calum |date=3 July 2015 |title=New candidate nominated in race to succeed Alex Salmond |work=Press and Journal |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeenshire/627604/new-candidate-nominated-race-succeed-alex-salmond/ |access-date=15 June 2021}} Her parents have always been politically active.{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandvotes.com/news/16for16-gillian-martin |title=#16for16: Gillian Martin |publisher=Weber Shandwick |date=23 March 2016 |access-date=5 May 2016}}

A graduate of the University of Glasgow, she worked as a lecturer in further education for 15 years, including at North East Scotland College.{{cite news |last=Nutt |first=Kathleen |date=30 April 2016 |title=Gillian Martin: The referendum made me realise that my actions had to follow my words |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/14902858.gillian-martin-the-referendum-made-me-realise-that-my-actions-had-to-follow-my-words/ |access-date=15 June 2021}} Alongside this, Martin ran her own business in video production and training for the energy sector.

She was the manager of an emergency media response team for oil and gas companies for 10 years.{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Paul |date=1 April 2023 |title=New Scottish energy minister did a decade in PR for oil industry |url=https://theferret.scot/new-energy-minister-decade-in-pr-oil-industry/ |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=The Ferret}}

Early political activity

Martin became politically active during the Scottish independence referendum.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/scotland-blog/2016/may/02/scottish-elections-new-faces-of-holyrood-2016 |title=Scottish elections: new faces of Holyrood 2016 |first=Libby |last=Brooks |work=The Guardian |date=2 May 2016 |access-date=5 May 2016}} She helped found Women for Independence (WFI).{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-even-in-better-together-heartland-aberdeen-the-yes-campaign-fights-on-9734438.html |title=Scottish independence: Even in Better Together heartland Aberdeen, the Yes campaign fights on |first=Jonathan |last=Brown |work=The Independent |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=5 May 2016}} She was on the WFI executive committee as the member for North East region, and has continued participation as an ordinary member since becoming an MSP.

She joined the SNP on 19 September 2014, on the morning after the Scottish independence referendum. She emerged as a candidate for the Aberdeenshire East constituency of the Scottish Parliament in July 2015. and was selected by local party members the following month.{{cite news |url=http://www.inverurieherald.co.uk/news/local-headlines/snp-choose-candidate-for-shire-east-seat-1-3864320 |title=SNP choose candidate for Shire East seat |work=Inverurie Herald |date=22 August 2015 |access-date=5 May 2016}}

Political career

= Election to Holyrood =

Martin was elected to serve as a MSP in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.[https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/scotland-constituencies/S16000077 Aberdeenshire East – BBC News] The seat was previously held by Alex Salmond.

Martin brought forward the Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/103805.aspx|title=Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill|date=2017-03-03|website=www.parliament.scot|access-date=2017-07-02}} The purpose of the Bill is to introduce a requirement to Scottish law that all dedicated home-to-school transport service vehicles are fitted with seat belts, as there is presently no UK legal obligation for the provision of seatbelts on such vehicles.

= Failed appointment as a Junior Minister =

On 27 June 2018 the Scottish Government announced that Martin would be appointed Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science.{{cite news |title=First Minister completes her ministerial team |url=https://news.gov.scot/news/first-minister-completes-her-ministerial-team |access-date=27 June 2018 |publisher=Scottish Government}} However, following media attention around a series of offensive blogs Martin wrote during her time as a college lecturer, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon subsequently withdrew Martin's nomination when presenting her new ministerial team to the Scottish Parliament for approval.{{cite news |last1=Sanderson |first1=Daniel |title=New minister Gillian Martin mocked trans students on deleted blog |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/new-minister-gillian-martin-mocked-trans-students-on-deleted-blog-0vwj0mbb8 |access-date=28 June 2018 |agency=The Times}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11632&i=105418#ScotParlOR|title=Official Report|website=Scottish Parliament|date=24 January 2014|access-date=28 June 2018}} Among the controversial blog entries, Martin mocked trans women as "hairy knuckled lipstick- wearing transitional transgender Laydees".{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-blogged-thoughts-of-gillian-martin-bqhbrsx5k|title = The (Blogged) thoughts of Gillian Martin|last1 = Sanderson|first1 = Daniel}} She also wrote of a survey of transgender people, "the EU clearly have a Tranny Trove [of money]".{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/gillian-martin-ditched-scottish-government-12811694|title=Nicola Sturgeon ditches minister who mocked 'hairy-knuckled' transgender women|website=Daily Mirror|date=28 June 2018}} Of Scotland's membership of the United Kingdom she wrote, "Don’t make me trot out the now clichéd comparison to the abused partner in a marriage. Cliché it may be but clichés come from truth." And of African American customers she wrote they were to be, "To be avoided."{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-under-fire-gillian-martin-comments-minority-groups-come-light-1428208|title = Nicola Sturgeon under fire as Gillian Martin comments on minority groups come to light}}

= Backbencher; 2018 to 2023 =

In September 2018, Martin was appointed as Convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.

From 2016 to 2018 Martin was co-convenor of the Scottish Parliament cross-party group on Oil and Gas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.scot/msps/oil-and-gas.aspx|title=Oil and Gas|date=2016-10-21|website=www.parliament.scot|access-date=2017-07-02}} She has used her time in parliament to highlight the downturn of the oil and gas sector in the North East, and the effect it has had on those living in Aberdeenshire East. Martin has spoken out on behalf of workers who have been discriminated against due to their oil and gas connections,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-38933167|title=Calls for oil and gas workers discrimination probe|last=Stalker|first=Fiona|date=2017-02-13|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-07-02|language=en-GB}} and has been a vocal supporter of the efforts being by the Scottish Government made to assist those facing unemployment.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishparliament.tv/Archive/Index/523b3138-52c7-4dac-b304-be8e05217409?parentCategoryClicked=False&pageNumber=1&orderByField=ScheduledStart&queryOrder=DESC&in=01:30:30&out=01:38:18|title=Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) – Scottish Parliament|website=www.scottishparliament.tv|others=Broadcasting|access-date=2017-07-02}}

= Minister for Energy and the Environment; 2023 to present =

On 29 March 2023, Martin was appointed Minister for Energy.{{Cite web |title=Full ministerial team confirmed |url=http://www.gov.scot/news/full-ministerial-team-confirmed/ |access-date=2023-04-16 |website=www.gov.scot |language=en}} Her role was expanded to include the environment.{{Cite news |date=2023-06-13 |title=Màiri McAllan appointed new Scottish transport secretary |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65893850 |access-date=2023-08-23}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-17 |title=Scottish Government Reshuffle Provides Extra Support to Rural Portfolio |url=https://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/news/23590287.scottish-government-reshuffle-sees-extra-support-rural-portfolio/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=The Scottish Farmer |language=en}}

= Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy; 2024 to present =

Martin is currently also filling the role of Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy for the duration of incumbent Màiri McAllan's maternity leave. McAllan is expected to return to work in March 2025.{{Cite news |last=Kendix |first=Max |last2=Gilmour |first2=Lauren |date=2024-03-13 |title=I’ll be back, says Mairi McAllan as she announces pregnancy |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/scottish-economy-secretary-mairi-mcallan-announces-pregnancy-pchn23wh0 |access-date=2024-03-13 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}

Personal life

Martin is married to a teacher named John Martin who teaches at Turriff Academy and has two children. She lives in Newmachar, Aberdeenshire.

Controversies

In 2018, Martin apologised "unreservedly" for "inappropriate and offensive" remarks she had posted on a blog about transgender people in 2007.{{cite web |title=Gillian Martin issues an apology for calling transgender students 'hairy knuckled lipstick-wearing transitional laydees' |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/holyrood/1508934/gillian-martin-issues-an-apology-for-calling-transgender-students-hairy-knuckled-lipstick-wearing-transitional-laydees/ |website=www.pressandjournal.co.uk |publisher=www.pressandjournal.co.uk |access-date=30 April 2019}} On 28 June 2018, she issued a second apology about offensive remarks made a decade earlier about the tipping habits of black customers.{{cite web |title=Gillian Martin issues second apology as more blog comments surface |url=https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/gillian-martin-issues-second-apology-as-more-blog-comments-surface/ |website=www.eveningexpress.co.uk |publisher=www.eveningexpress.co.uk |access-date=30 April 2019}}