Cathy Jamieson was a minister in the former administration

The fine arts graduate held posts in former first minister Jack McConnell's cabinet.

Ms Jamieson, who is MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, took on the tough portfolio of education and then the challenging justice brief.

She oversaw efforts to stamp out anti-social behaviour and drug dealing and attempted to tackle Scotland's so called "booze and blades" culture.

Mrs Jamieson was formerly principal of the Who Cares? Scotland organisation, working for young people in care and was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

During her time in the Labour/Lib Dem coalition, the former social worker was known as a McConnell loyalist.

She also faced calls to step down when a number of blunders occurred with the privatised prison escort service.

But she stood firm and continued in her post until Labour lost power at the third Holyrood election in May 2007.