John McTernan - Former Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Scotland
John McTernan was special adviser to the Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP, Secretary of State for Scotland from 2008-2010. From 2007-8 he was special adviser to the Rt Hon Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence and Scotland. Prior to this he worked at 10 Downing Street for three and a half years. Until July 2007 he was Political Secretary to Prime Minister Tony Blair. From January 2004 until April 2005 he was a Senior Policy Adviser in the No 10 Policy Directorate leading on regeneration, social exclusion, arts, sports, lottery and gambling. He worked with Matthew Taylor, the PM's Chief Policy Adviser, on Labour's manifesto for the 2005 General Election.
Prior to this he was the senior political columnist, and leader writer, for 'Scotland on Sunday' and acknowledged as one of Scotland's leading political thinkers. He also wrote a weekly column on social policy in 'Community Care'. As a consultant he specialised in leadership and strategic thinking - running the Civil Service Top Management Programme for the Cabinet Office, and working with a range of public and private sector organisations across the UK including the Prudential, English Partnerships, Edinburgh City Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. John was also Head of Strategy and Chief Political Adviser to the First Minister of Scotland; Director of Operations at Cartlon Productions and a Special Adviser in the Department of Social Security. He has also been a councillor in the London Borough of Southwark.
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