RT HON HENRY McLEISH began his political career in local government in 1974, and was leader of Fife Regional Council for five years. He was elected as an MP in 1987 and became Minister for Devolution and Home Affairs from 1997 to 1999. In the first Scottish Parliament he was Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning from 1999, and in 2000 he became First Minister of Scotland until 2001. Resigning from politics in 2003, he is now an adviser and lectures internationally on a variety of topics. He frequently appears on TV and radio, and is interviewed for various newspapers and magazines.