David McLetchie
Encyclopedia
David McLetchie is a Scottish politician, currently a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Member
of the Scottish Parliament
for the Lothian
electoral region. He was formerly the leader of the Scottish Conservatives between 1999 and 2005, and MSP for the Edinburgh Pentlands
constituency (2003-2011).
Born in Edinburgh
, McLetchie became leader of the Scottish Conservatives upon the creation of the Scottish Parliament, in 1999, and was the MSP for the Lothians electoral region (1999-2003). In 2003, he was elected as the constituency MSP for the Edinburgh Pentlands
constituency. He was forced to resign as Scottish Conservative leader following a scandal over his expense
claims in 2005.
He was re-elected in Edinburgh Pentlands in 2007, but lost his seat to the Scottish Nationalists
in 2011. Although not re-elected in Pentlands, he was returned to Parliament as a 'list' MSP for the Lothian region. Presently, he sits on the Scottish Parliamentary committee
which scrutinises the passage of the Scotland Bill
through the UK Parliament
, and is the Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, Business Manager and Constitutional Affairs Spokesman.
with a degree in Law in 1974, having attended Leith Academy
and George Heriot's School
. McLetchie trained as a solicitor
with Shepherd + Wedderburn, before joining Tods Murray where he was assumed a partner
. He specialised in tax
, trusts, and estate planning
.
In 1979 he contested the Edinburgh Central
seat for the Scottish Conservatives, but lost to Labour's Robin Cook
.
. He was also Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 1999 until 2005. Initially he was elected as an additional member
for the Lothians, but at the 2003 election he won the first past the post seat of Edinburgh Pentlands
.
His successor as leader was Annabel Goldie
.
. In the Scottish General Election which took place on the 5th of May 2011, he lost the constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands to Gordon MacDonald of the SNP.
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
of the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
for the Lothian
Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
Lothian is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament. Nine of the parliament's 73first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
electoral region. He was formerly the leader of the Scottish Conservatives between 1999 and 2005, and MSP for the Edinburgh Pentlands
Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh Pentlands is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
constituency (2003-2011).
Born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, McLetchie became leader of the Scottish Conservatives upon the creation of the Scottish Parliament, in 1999, and was the MSP for the Lothians electoral region (1999-2003). In 2003, he was elected as the constituency MSP for the Edinburgh Pentlands
Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh Pentlands is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
constituency. He was forced to resign as Scottish Conservative leader following a scandal over his expense
MSPs' Salaries, Expenses and Allowances
Members of the Scottish Parliament are entitled to a salary, and where applicable, expenses and allowances.The Scotland Act 1998 provides for pay and allowances to MSPs, officeholders of the Scottish Parliament and Ministers...
claims in 2005.
He was re-elected in Edinburgh Pentlands in 2007, but lost his seat to the Scottish Nationalists
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
in 2011. Although not re-elected in Pentlands, he was returned to Parliament as a 'list' MSP for the Lothian region. Presently, he sits on the Scottish Parliamentary committee
Committees of the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament has a number of committees, with small numbers of Members appointed to deal with particular topics or issues.Much of the work of the Scottish Parliament is done in committee...
which scrutinises the passage of the Scotland Bill
Scotland Bill 2011
The Scotland Bill is a bill proposed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition UK Government, with broad support from the opposition Labour Party, setting out amendments to the Scotland Act 1998, with the aim of devolving further powers to Scotland....
through the UK Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, and is the Scottish Conservative Chief Whip, Business Manager and Constitutional Affairs Spokesman.
Background
He graduated from the University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
with a degree in Law in 1974, having attended Leith Academy
Leith Academy
Leith Academy is a state school in Leith, Edinburgh. It currently educates around 1,000 pupils and around 2,800 part time adult learners.The former headteacher, Sandy Mcauley, resigned in 2008; Jack M Simpson was appointed headteacher in September 2008....
and George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School
George Heriot's School is an independent primary and secondary school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, with around 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff and 80 non-teaching staff. It was established in 1628 as George Heriot's Hospital, by bequest of the royal goldsmith George...
. McLetchie trained as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
with Shepherd + Wedderburn, before joining Tods Murray where he was assumed a partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
. He specialised in tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
, trusts, and estate planning
Estate planning
Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the disposal of an estate. Estate planning typically attempts to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximize the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses...
.
In 1979 he contested the Edinburgh Central
Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh Central was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 2005. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
seat for the Scottish Conservatives, but lost to Labour's Robin Cook
Robin Cook
Robert Finlayson Cook was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Livingston from 1983 until his death, and notably served in the Cabinet as Foreign Secretary from 1997 to 2001....
.
Leader of the Scottish Conservatives
Since 1999, he has been a Member of the Scottish ParliamentMember of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
. He was also Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 1999 until 2005. Initially he was elected as an additional member
Additional Member System
The Additional Member System is the term used in the United Kingdom for the mixed member proportional representation voting system used in Scotland, Wales and the London Assembly....
for the Lothians, but at the 2003 election he won the first past the post seat of Edinburgh Pentlands
Edinburgh Pentlands (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh Pentlands is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
.
Resignation
David McLetchie announced his resignation as Scottish Conservative Party leader on 31 October 2005, after it was revealed he had spent £11,500 of taxpayers' money on taxi fares, more than any other MSP. The problem was not so much the large bill, but the fact that he had used taxis for Conservative party business (as opposed to constituency business).His successor as leader was Annabel Goldie
Annabel Goldie
Annabel MacNicoll Goldie is a Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland Region. She was the Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament from 2005 until 2011....
.
Backbencher
Following his resignation McLetchie had a short spell as a backbencher in the Parliament though he remained a prominent figure, his major successes from this period include his campaigns on free personal care and road pricing.Post 2007
In May 2007 McLetchie was returned as MSP for his Edinburgh Pentlands constituency with an increased share of the vote and his majority doubled. On his return he was made Conservative Chief Whip and business manager, a role which was set to be more important than ever before given the minority SNP administrationGovernment of the 3rd Scottish Parliament
The Government of the 3rd Scottish Parliament was formed after the 2007 elections to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government is headed by First Minister Alex Salmond.- First Salmond government :...
. In the Scottish General Election which took place on the 5th of May 2011, he lost the constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands to Gordon MacDonald of the SNP.