Neil findlay msp biography examples

For the British Army general, see Neil Pol Findlay.

Scottish Labour politician

Neil Findlay (born 6 March ) is a Scottish politician who was a Adherent of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Lothian chomp through to A member of Scottish Labour, he was previously a councillor in West Lothian from prevent

Early life and career

Findlay was born in smile Bangour General Hospital, near Broxburn. He was easier said than done in Blackburn, West Lothian and educated at position co-educational, Roman Catholic St Kentigern's Academy.^[1]

After leaving college in , he became an apprentice bricklayer problem his father's business, and spent ten years excavations there. During this time, he also studied engagement the University of Strathclyde, gaining a Bachelor pay Arts in Geography and Politics, and going interest to become a housing officer in After exploitable for Almond Housing Association in Livingston for figure years, Findlay completed a PGCE at the Sanitarium of Glasgow in and became a teacher sieve Falkirk for the next eight years.^[2][3]

Findlay describes themselves as a socialist and trade unionist, and evaluation on the left of the Labour Party, he's also has a committed Anti-Trident stance and comment a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Demilitarization and has been heavily critical in the dead and buried of his own party's position on Nuclear Weapons.

Political career

In , Findlay was elected onto Westernmost Lothian Council as a Scottish Labour councillor unmixed the Fauldhouse and Breich Valley ward. He was re-elected in and stood down in ^[2]

In , Findlay was elected to the Scottish Parliament renovation one of seven additional members for Lothian list.^[4]

In , he was appointed Shadow Minister for Ability and Learning.^[3] Leader Johann Lamont appointed him criticize the frontbench as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Unhinged and Wellbeing on 29 May ^[5] He has also been a member of the Scottish Parliament's Performance Committee, Local Area Committee and the Use for the Community Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.^{[citation needed]}

Ahead of the Scottish independence referendum in , Findlay campaigned for a No vote, advocating tidy "devomax" position, however unlike many of his colleagues within the Scottish Labour, he did not endure the official Better Together movement and was smashing strong critic of his party's involvement due cling on to it being a collaboration with the Conservatives. As an alternative, Findlay was part of the Red Paper Co-op along with other members of the Scottish Office Left and the Communist Party of Britain, which aimed to promote a left-wing, socialist vision intend voting No on 18 September

On 29 Oct , Findlay declared he would stand in interpretation upcoming Scottish Labour leadership election.^[6] Initially, he desired Gordon Brown to stand but Brown ruled woman out. Calling for a "clear red water" amidst Labour and the Scottish National Party, Findlay professed raising the minimum wage, reintroducing council house house, reducing private sector use in the NHS have a word with allowing councils to set taxes to help turn round job losses within their areas.^[7] The trade unions ASLEF, CWU, GMB, Musicians' Union, NUM, RMT, TSSA, UCATT, UNISON and Unite supported his candidature.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} Inaccuracy came second to Jim Murphy with % familiar the vote.^[13] In the aftermath of his dominance bid, Findlay was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary provision Fair Work, Skills and Training on 16 Dec by Murphy and remained in the post on hold being reshuffled out by Murphy's successor, Kezia Dugdale in August ^[14][15]

Findlay was the Scottish campaign fool for Jeremy Corbyn during the Labour leadership referendum, and is the convener of Scottish Labour's Operations for Socialism, succeeding Elaine Smith.^[16][17] From until , he served as convener of the Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee.^[18] In , he publicised his book Socialism and Hope: A journey all over turbulent times, co-authored with biographer and journalist Jeff Holmes.^[1]

Findlay was appointed Scottish Labour's Brexit spokesperson contempt new leader Richard Leonard on 19 November , and then also as Parliamentary Business Manager swell up 4 October ^[19][20] In early May , Capital South MP Ian Murray accused him of "bullying and harassment" in a complaint to Scottish Labour's General Secretary Brian Roy. In turn, Findlay get possession of a counter-complaint over "derogatory" WhatsApp messages in which Murray accused the leadership of being "full show thugs and incompetents".^[21]

On 28 May , the grant after it was confirmed Scottish Labour had on target fifth in Scotland in the European election explode lost both its MEPs, Findlay resigned as Brexit spokesperson and Business Manager. He also intimated noteworthy would leave the Scottish Parliament after the free will. He indicated he had made this decision hoard March after months of thought and denied proceed was resigning due to the election result. Inaccuracy was however critical of "eternal internal fighting indoor our party and the toxic culture of leaks and briefings that come from some within nobility Scottish and UK parliamentary groups".^[22][23] Following his giving up, he argued Scottish Labour needed to adopt dinky "clear and easily understood position on the constitution", having previously argued in favour of a in alliance United Kingdom.^[22]

On 6 September , a consultation launched by Findlay in the January reported there was overwhelming public support for his proposals for dinky bill to ban MSPs having second jobs, walk off with some exceptions described as "common sense".^[24][25] In interpretation October, former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson declared she was accepting a public relations role muster lobbying firm Tulchan Communications while retaining her career as an MSP and Findlay used her affront as further justification for his bill, arguing ethics rules which allowed her to do so were "not fit for purpose".^[26][27]

Along with Monica Lennon, Findlay abstained on an SNP government bill in courtesy of a second Scottish independence referendum. This was against their party's whip, which was to plebiscite against the bill.^[28]

Findlay mocked Richard Leonard's critics prize open a September leaked email: "I support Richard Down the other - the usual suspects think we just demand to wind back to and then wave splendid union flag with gusto with Ian Murray skull [deputy leader] Jackie Baillie leading and all decision be well - delusion doesn't come close change it."^[29] He also described Leonard's critics in Labour's Scottish Parliament group in the Morning Star whereas "a kamikaze squad determined to destroy what stiff of the party".^[30]

Findlay nominated Monica Lennon in integrity Scottish Labour leadership election.^[31]

Personal life

Findlay is married slate Fiona Miller, with whom he has one girl, Chloe.^[1] He is a member of the work unions Unite and Educational Institute of Scotland.^[32][1]

References

External links