Colin Keir
Colin Keir | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Western | |
| In office 7 May 2011 – 23 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Margaret Smith |
| Succeeded by | To Be Decided |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 December 1959 Edinburgh, Scotland, UK |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
Colin Keir (born 9 December 1959) is a Scottish politician, formerly the Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Edinburgh Western constituency 2011−2016. Before being elected as a MSP, he was a councillor.
Early life
Keir was born on 9 December 1959[1] in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated at Craigmount High School and Stevenson College.[2] He is a former Scottish Schools 5000 metres champion and cross-country international.
Political career
Between 2007 and 2012 he was a councillor for Drum Brae/Gyle ward on The City of Edinburgh Council. He was Convener of the council's Regulatory Committee.[3]
Keir contested the seat of Edinburgh Western in the Scottish Parliament general election, 2011, and defeated the Liberal Democrat incumbent Margaret Smith with a substantial swing to win with a margin of 2,689 votes.[4]
In August 2015, after serving just one term, Keir was heavily defeated in his attempt to be re-nominated as the SNP candidate in Edinburgh Western for the 2016 election. Keir was beaten by Toni Giugliano, a member of the party's national executive committee, who had received the backing of former leader Alex Salmond.[5] During his campaign for re-selection Keir had issued campaign literature emphasising his support for a second independence referendum.
References
- ^ http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/memberspages/colin_keir/index.htm
- ^ "About: Colin Keir". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ "Taxi rules call to slam door on gangsters muscling in to trade". Edinburgh Evening News. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
- ^ "Vote 2011: Scotland elections: Constituencies: Edinburgh Western". BBC News. 11 May 2011.
- ^ "SNP MSP Colin Keir deselected for 2016 vote". Edinburgh Evening News. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
External links
- profile on SNP website