Iain Smith (Scottish politician)

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Iain Smith
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for North East Fife
In office
6 May 1999 – 22 March 2011
Preceded bynew constituency
Succeeded byRoderick Campbell
Majority5,016 (15.9%)
Personal details
Born (1960-05-01) 1 May 1960 (age 63)
Gateside, Scotland
NationalityBritish
Political partyScottish Liberal Democrats
Residence(s)Ladybank, Fife
Alma materNewcastle University

Iain Smith (born 1 May 1960) is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Fife constituency from 1999 until his defeat at 2011 election by the SNP's Rod Campbell.

Education[edit]

Smith was educated at Bell Baxter High School in Cupar, Fife before reading Politics and Economics at Newcastle University.

Early career[edit]

Prior to entering Holyrood, Smith worked for Northumberland County Council, managed an Advice Centre in Dundee and was Constituency Assistant to North East Fife MP, Sir Menzies Campbell. Simultaneously, he was a Councillor and Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Fife Council 1986–99.

In Parliament[edit]

Smith was elected to the first Scottish Parliament in May 1999 to represent his home constituency of North East Fife and was appointed as Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Business in the government of First Minister Donald Dewar. A post he held until Dewar's death the following year.

He convened the Parliament's Procedures Committee from 2003–05 when he was elected Convener of the Education Committee, a position he held until the 2007 Scottish Parliament election.

After the election Smith was appointed Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Europe, External Affairs and Culture and was elected by his colleagues to Chair of the Scottish Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party. In September 2008 he became Convener of the Scottish Parliament's influential Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee.

Between 2001–2011 he represented the Scottish Parliament as a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

Personal life[edit]

Smith was one of four openly gay, lesbian or bisexual MSPs in the 2007–2011 Parliament, along with Scottish Green Party leader Patrick Harvie, former MSP Margaret Smith and Joe FitzPatrick.[1]

For the past eight years, Smith has lived with his partner in Ladybank. He has a broad interest in sports; particularly cricket and football. He likes to travel widely and has a keen interest in culture.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Harrison, Iain (21 December 2008), "Gay MSPs stay in closet", The Times, London, retrieved 22 December 2008

External links[edit]

  • Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Iain Smith
  • Iain Smith profile at the site of Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Parliament
New parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Fife
19992011
Incumbent
Preceded by Convener of the Energy, Economy and Tourism Committee
2008–2011
Succeeded by
???
Preceded by Convener of the Education Committee
2005–2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Convener of the Procedures Committee
2003–2005
Succeeded by
Political offices
New office Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Business
1999–2000
Succeeded by