Murdo Fraser
Encyclopedia
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.
. He studied law at the University of Aberdeen
, and was chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives
from 1989 to 1992.
After undertaking a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies
, he worked as a solicitor
in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. latterly as an associate with Ketchen and Stevens WS in Edinburgh, specialising in commercial law. Fraser lives with his wife and two children in Perthshire.
, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Tayside North
.
He became an MSP in 2001, after the resignation of Nick Johnston
, as next name on the Conservative Party's Mid Scotland and Fife list. He was re-elected in 2003
and 2007
.
He became deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives in November 2005 when Annabel Goldie
became leader. After the election, at which 15 Conservative MSP's were elected, Annabel Goldie
triggered a leadership election by announcing that she would stand down in Autumn 2011.
, and launched his campaign on 4 September in Edinburgh. His launch plans included a commitment to further devolution to the Scottish Parliament from Westminster, as well as launching a new party to redefine the politics of Scotland, harnessing the support of the centre-right, but independent of the UK Conservative Party and with a new name and identity. Fraser was unsuccessful in his attempt to be elected party leader, losing out to Ruth Davidson
, and following the election was succeeded as deputy leader by Jackson Carlaw
.
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...
. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament
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:...
for the Mid Scotland and Fife region since 2001.
Early life
Born in 1965, he was educated at Inverness Royal AcademyInverness Royal Academy
Inverness Royal Academy is a secondary school located in the Culduthel area of Inverness, Highland, Scotland.- Catchment area :...
. He studied law at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, and was chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives
Scottish Young Conservatives
The Scottish Young Conservatives is the former youth wing of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. In 2005 it merged with its sister organisation, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Students to become, in line with UK-wide youth wing Conservative Future , Conservative Future Scotland....
from 1989 to 1992.
After undertaking a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies
Diploma in Legal Practice
The Diploma in Legal Practice is a Scottish postgraduate qualification required in order to practise law in Scotland, as either a solicitor or an advocate...
, he worked 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...
in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. latterly as an associate with Ketchen and Stevens WS in Edinburgh, specialising in commercial law. Fraser lives with his wife and two children in Perthshire.
Political career
At the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary ElectionScottish Parliament election, 1999
The Scottish Parliament election, 1999 was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with voting taking place on 6 May 1999 to elect 129 members...
, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Tayside North
Tayside North (Scottish Parliament constituency)
North Tayside is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
.
He became an MSP in 2001, after the resignation of Nick Johnston
Nick Johnston
Paul Nicholas Johnston is a Scottish politician.-Early life:He is the son of Joseph Leo Johnston and Winifred Vera Neale. He went to North Kesteven Grammar School in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire....
, as next name on the Conservative Party's Mid Scotland and Fife list. He was re-elected in 2003
Scottish Parliament election, 2003
The Scottish Parliament election, 2003, was the second general election of the Scottish Parliament. It was held on 1 May 2003 and it brought no change in terms of control of the Scottish Executive...
and 2007
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
.
He became deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives in November 2005 when 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....
became leader. After the election, at which 15 Conservative MSP's were elected, 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....
triggered a leadership election by announcing that she would stand down in Autumn 2011.
Party leadership election
After being re-elected again in 2011, he announced in August his decision to seek the leadership of the Scottish Conservative PartyScottish Conservative Party leadership election, 2011
The 2011 Scottish Conservative Party leadership election was an internal party election to elect a new leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, the third largest political party in the devolved Scottish Parliament. Ruth Davidson was declared the winner of the contest on November 4,...
, and launched his campaign on 4 September in Edinburgh. His launch plans included a commitment to further devolution to the Scottish Parliament from Westminster, as well as launching a new party to redefine the politics of Scotland, harnessing the support of the centre-right, but independent of the UK Conservative Party and with a new name and identity. Fraser was unsuccessful in his attempt to be elected party leader, losing out to Ruth Davidson
Ruth Davidson
Ruth Davidson is a politician, former BBC journalist and the current leader of the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party...
, and following the election was succeeded as deputy leader by Jackson Carlaw
Jackson Carlaw
Jackson Carlaw is a Conservative politician and a Member of the Scottish Parliament. He was defeated as a candidate for Eastwood in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 Scottish Parliament elections...
.
External links
- Personal website
- Murdo Fraser MSP profile at Scottish Parliament site
- Murdo Fraser MSP profile at Scottish Conservative Party
- Murdo Fraser MSP profile at the site of the Conservative Party