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1. Fergus Ewing MSP
(Also standing in Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber constituency) |
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| Scottish National Party |
Fergus Ewing was born in Glasgow in 1957 and educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh and Glasgow University where he graduated with an LLB. Prior to being elected he was an apprentice solicitor from 1979 - 1981, a solicitor in a Glasgow law firm from 1981 - 1985 and a partner in Ewing & Co. from 1985 until 1999. He was also a member of the national executive of the SNP. He is the son of Winnie, formerly MEP for the Highlands & Islands, husband of the late Margaret MSP for Moray and brother of Annabelle the former MP for Perth. He is a member of the Church of Scotland and of the Law Society for Scotland.
As an MSP he has previously served on the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee and the Rural Development Committee.
His constituency is the second largest in Scotland, and is about 5 times larger than greater London which has around 90 MPs.
Shadow Ministerial Posts:
September 2004 - Shadow Minister for Tourism, Transport & Telecommunications
May 2003 - September 2004 Shadow Minister for Finance & Public Services
September 2000 - May 2003 Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
May 1999 - September 2000 Shadow Deputy Minister for Tourism, Small Business and Highlands & Islands
Recent electoral experience
2003 Scottish Parliament election, Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber, 10,764 votes (30.94 %) (elected)
2003 Scottish Parliament election, second on SNP Highlands & Islands list, 8,085 votes (23.34 %)
1999 Scottish Parliament election, Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber, 13,825 votes (33.06 %) (elected)
1999 Scottish Parliament election, fourth on SNP Highlands & Islands list, 12,245 votes (29.30 %)
1997 Westminster Parliament election, Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber, 13,848 votes (28.99 %)
1992 Westminster Parliament election, Inverness, Nairn & Lochaber, 12,562 votes (24.7 %)
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2. Jim Mather MSP
(Also standing in Argyll & Bute constituency) |
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| Scottish National Party |
Jim Mather was born on the 6 th of March 1947 in Lochwinnoch and educated at Paisley Grammar, Greenock High School and Glasgow University where he studied accountancy, law and economics and graduated as a chartered accountant. From 1964 - 1970 he worked as an Apprentice Chartered Accountant at Welsh Walker Ritchie & Co, from 1970 - 1973 an Accountant at Chivas Brothers Ltd, from 1973 - 1983 Marketing Manager at IBM UK Ltd, from 1983 -1996 Director of Computers for Business (Scotland) Ltd and from 1997 - 1999 Director of Startech Partners Limited. He was an Executive Director of Business for Scotland. He is a Member of the Finance Committee and a Substitute Member of the Environment & Rural Development Committee
Shadow Ministerial Posts:
September 2005 - Shadow Minister for Enterprise
May 2003 - September 2005 - Shadow Minister for Enterprise & the Economy
Recent electoral experience
2003 Scottish Parliamentary election, Argyll & Bute, 5,485 votes (19.6 %)
2003 Scottish Parliamentary election, First on SNP Highlands & Islands list, 39,497 votes (23.43 %) (elected)
2000 Scottish Parliamentary by-election, Ayr, 9,236 votes (29.0 %)
1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, Ross, Skye & Inverness West, 7,997 votes (22.58 %)
1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, Fifth on SNP Highlands & Islands list, 55,933 votes (27.73 %)
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3. Rob Gibson MSP
(Also standing in Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross constituency) |
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| Scottish National Party |
Rob Gibson was born in Glasgow in 1945 and was dicated at the High School of Glasgow, Dundee University where he graduated with a MA Hons in Modern History and a Diploma in Education an Dundee College of Education where he obtained a Diploma with Merit in Modern Studies and History. In 1973 he taught Geography and Modern Studies at Invergordon Academy, and was appointed Assistant Principle Teacher of guidance in 1974. From 1977 until 1995 he was Principal Teacher of Guidance at Alness Academy. Since early retirement, or early 'relifement' as he calls it, he has developed his historical training and skills by writing the book Plaids and Bandanas which arose from a musical show originally written and performed in the 1998 Highland Festival.
He has been an enthusiastic member of the Environment and Rural Development Committee and was appointed Deputy Convener of the Stirling - Alloa - Kincardine Railway and Linked Improvements Bill which reached the end of its parliamentary passage in the last meeting of Parliament on the Mound.
Cross-Party Groups such as Scots, Gaelic and Traditional Arts are core interests as are nuclear disarmament, affordable housing and saving consultant led services in the NHS. Rob Lives in Evanton, Easter Ross and enjoys organic gardening, folk music and hill walking with his partner Eleanor Scott MSP.
Following his unanimous selection as sole nominee at a meeting held in the Dornoch Bridge Inn, Rob Gibson has pledged to apply his wide knowledge of the issues that most affect life on the north mainland. He commented, 'I am delighted to have the honour to contest the Far North seat. Since becoming an MSP I have travelled extensively throughout the North and seen huge potential. To unlock our human and natural resources, local communities need real decision taking powers. For too long people here have had to put up with half measures dished up by the LibDem and Labour coalition government in Edinburgh. North voters can make a real difference for the future of our widespread communities and build a modern economy by voting for real change.''
Shadow Ministerial Posts:
September 2004 - Shadow Deputy Minister for Land Reform
Recent electoral experience
2003 Scottish Parliament election, Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross, 3,692 votes (17.5 %)
2003 Scottish Parliament election, Fourth on SNP Highlands & Island list, 39,497 votes (23.4 %) (elected)
1992 Westminster election, Ross, Cromarty & Skye, 7,618 votes (18.6 %)
1987 Westminster election, Ross, Cromarty & Skye, 4,492 votes (11.8 %)
Feb 1974 Westminster election, Inverness, 7,816 votes (17.9 %)
Former District Councillor in Ross & Cromarty
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4. David Thompson
(Also standing in Ross, Skye & Inverness West constituency) |
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| Scottish National Party |
David joined the SNP in 1966 as a founder member of his native Lossiemouth Branch. From 1973 to 1983, in the Lewis Branch, he worked closely with Donald Stewart MP and held a number of posts within the SNP. He then held a number of politically restricted Council posts retiring as Highland Council Director of Protective Services in December 2001. He was Chairman of the Scottish Society of Directors of Trading Standards, Chairman of the Highlands and Islands Branch of the Chartered Management Institute, Chairman of GMB/MPO Highland and an Advisor to COSLA. He is a member of Scottish CND and completed the first year of a Degree in Gaelic in 2004. He is a member of Kinmylies Baptist Church and a long time supporter of Caley Thistle. He stood in Ross, Skye and Inverness West in 2003, pushing Labour into 3rd place.
Recent electoral experience
2005 Westminster election, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, 5,992 votes (13.54 %)
2003 Scottish parliament election, Ross, Skye & Inverness West, 5,647 votes (19.49 %)
2003 Scottish parliament election, Sixth on SNP Highlands & Islands list, 39,497 votes (23.43 %)
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5. Mhairi Will |
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| Scottish National Party |
Mhairi has been a member of the Scottish National Party since 1991. She joined because of a belief in Scottish Independence and a wish to become more active in politics to make this a reality. Mhairi, (48) was born and brought up in Stenhousemuir in Stirlingshire. She moved to Inverness in 1976 to commence Nurse training at the Highland College of Nursing and Midwifery. After completing training firstly as a general nurse and then undertaking a further qualification in Mental Health, Mhairi has worked in the field of Mental health since 1980. Currently she is the Lead Nurse for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities in NHS Highland. Mhairi has been married for 25 years to Norman. This is the second time that Mhairi has stood as a candidate having been actively involved in numerous capacities in many campaigns at Local Government, Westminster, Scottish and European elections and by-elections throughout Scotland.
Recent electoral experience
2005 Westminster election, Ross, Skye & Lochaber, 3,119 votes (9.59%)
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6. Cllr Robert Wynd |
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| Scottish National Party |
Robert Wynd won the Balloch ward in the Inverness area of Highland council in 1999 beating Labour and the Tories. In 2003 he won over 50 % of the votes aginst Tory and Lib Dem opponents. He is Vice Chairman for Planning, Development, Europe & Tourism (Economic Development) and is a member of the Planning, Development, Europe & Tourism; Renewing Democracy & Community Planning Select; Sustainable Development Select Transport, Environmental & Community Services Committees. He is also a Director of Highland Opportunity Ltd, a member of the Inverness College Board of Management, the Chairman of Local Economic Forum and the Chair of Inverness and Nairn Transport Forum. He is the SNP's agent for Inverness, Nairn & Badenoch
Recent electoral experience
2003 Local council election election, Highland, Balloch, 647 votes (51.43 %) (elected)
1999 Local council election election, Highland, Balloch, 596 votes (38.38 %) (elected)
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