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Elizabeth Smith (Scottish politician)
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Smith is a Scottish Conservative Party politician, and Member
of the Scottish Parliament
for Mid Scotland and Fife
. She is her party's education spokesman, having been a teacher
at George Watson's College
in Edinburgh
before becoming an MSP.
She was narrowly beaten (by just 48 votes) to the Perth
seat at the 2001 General Election
by the SNP's
Annabelle Ewing
. She made The Herald
Scottish Politician of the Year
shortlist for 'The One to Watch' in 2007.
In March 2009, Smith was caught up in the Sunday Express Dunblane controversy
when she was quoted condemning a number of teenage Dunblane survivors' blogs as "in bad taste". She has since distanced herself from these comments, arguing that they were quoted out of context, a claim disputed by the editor.
She is currently acting as campaign manager for Murdo Fraser
in his leadership election campaign.
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 Mid Scotland and Fife
Mid Scotland and Fife (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
Mid Scotland and Fife is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
. She is her party's education spokesman, having been a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at George Watson's College
George Watson's College
George Watson's College, known informally as Watson's, is a co-educational independent day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a hospital school in 1741, became a day school in 1871 and was merged with its sister school...
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...
before becoming an MSP.
She was narrowly beaten (by just 48 votes) to the Perth
Perth (UK Parliament constituency)
Perth was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918, 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005. From 1832 to 1918 it was a burgh constituency. From 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005, it was a county constituency...
seat at the 2001 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
by the SNP's
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
Annabelle Ewing
Annabelle Ewing
Annabelle Janet Ewing is a Scottish politician, lawyer and currently a SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Mid Scotland and Fife...
. She made The Herald
The Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
Scottish Politician of the Year
Scottish Politician of the Year
Scottish Politician of the Year is an annual award established in 1999. It is held by The Herald newspaper in Prestonfield, Edinburgh, Scotland....
shortlist for 'The One to Watch' in 2007.
In March 2009, Smith was caught up in the Sunday Express Dunblane controversy
Sunday Express Dunblane controversy
The Sunday Express Dunblane controversy began on Sunday 8 March 2009, when the Scottish edition of the Sunday Express newspaper published a front page article by Paula Murray, "Anniversary Shame of Dunblane Survivors", critical of survivors of the Dunblane massacre, by then aged 18 and 19, for...
when she was quoted condemning a number of teenage Dunblane survivors' blogs as "in bad taste". She has since distanced herself from these comments, arguing that they were quoted out of context, a claim disputed by the editor.
She is currently acting as campaign manager for Murdo Fraser
Murdo Fraser
Murdo Fraser is a Scottish politician and the current Deputy leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Mid Scotland and Fife region since 2001....
in his leadership election campaign.