Dr Aileen McLeod

Biography

Currently Head of Policy for SNP MEP Alyn Smith, responsible for European Parliament, EU policy and politics and European issues affecting Scotland, Dr Aileen McLeod grew up in East Kilbride and now lives in Edinburgh and Brussels.

Academic work on her speciality of European Politics and Policy began at Edinburgh University (MA (Hons) European Community Studies and German), continued as a Robert Schuman Scholar (European Parliament office – London), and at Glasgow University’s Scottish Jean Monnet Centre of European Excellence, culminating in her Doctorate from Central Lancashire University in 2004 on ‘the impact of the UK media on the legitimacy of the European Parliament in Britain’.

She worked for the EuroInfo Centre in Glasgow 1999-2001 and was Senior Research Specialist on Europe in the Scottish Parliament’s research department 2001–2004.

Aileen joined the SNP in 2004 on leaving her restricted post in Parliament and has used her knowledge of Europe and its institutions to help campaigns across Scotland as well as getting out on the ground and doing the legwork like any other activist.

Aileen hopes to continue the excellent work done by Dr. Winnie Ewing, Dr. Allan Macartney, Professor Neil MacCormick, Ian Hudghton and Alyn Smith – making Europe work for Scotland.