Richard Lochhead
| Richard Lochhead MSP |
|
|---|---|
| File:Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment (2).jpg | |
| Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment | |
| Assumed office 17 May 2007 |
|
| First Minister | Alex Salmond Nicola Sturgeon |
| Preceded by | Ross Finnie |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Moray |
|
| Assumed office 27 April 2006 |
|
| Preceded by | Margaret Ewing |
| Majority | 10,944 (38.3%) |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland |
|
| In office 6 May 1999 – 19 April 2006 |
|
| Preceded by | new parliament |
| Succeeded by | Maureen Watt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 May 1969 Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Fiona Lochhead |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Stirling |
| Occupation | Office manager; Economic development officer |
| Website | Official website |
Richard Neilson Lochhead (born 24 May 1969) is a Scottish politician who has been the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment since 2007 and the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Moray since 2006.
Background and early career
A native of Paisley, Lochhead attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston and Central College of Commerce in Glasgow before he graduated in 1994 in Political Studies from the University of Stirling. He worked for the SNP leader, Alex Salmond, as his Office Manager from 1994 to 1998, before becoming an environmental development officer for Dundee City Council. He was the SNP candidate in Gordon in the 1997 UK General Election, where he finished third. He subsequently fought the Aberdeen Central constituency in both 1999 and 2003, but came second to Lewis Macdonald each time.
Lochhead is married to Fiona, and they live in Elgin with their two young sons.
Scottish Parliament
Lochhead was elected to the Scottish Parliament at the 1999 election and re-elected at the 2003 election for the North East Scotland Region. In January 2006 he was selected as the SNP candidate for Moray for the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, following the announcement that Margaret Ewing MSP would be retiring. He beat Margaret Ewing's sister-in-law, former MP Annabelle Ewing in the selection.[1] Ewing's premature death triggered a by-election and Lochhead resigned his additional member seat in April 2006 in order to successfully contest the Moray by-election. He was elected on 28 April 2006.[2] This was the first time since the second world war that an incumbent party had retained a by-election seat without losing votes or having their majority or share of the vote lowered.
He is a former convener of the European and External Relations Committee of the Scottish Parliament. In opposition he held the SNP's portfolios on Environment, Energy, Fishing and Rural Affairs in the Scottish Parliament.
After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, it was announced on 16 May 2007 that Lochhead would be the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, taking up the position the following day.[3] The junior Ministerial position of Minister for the Environment was initially given to Michael Russell (currently held by Aileen McLeod). In May 2007, Lochhead started his tenure with promises to "relentlessly" pursue the Scottish fishing interests on behalf of fishermen and their communities.[4]
Lochhead was re-elected at the 2011 election with a further increased majority of 10,944.
References
External links
- Official website
- Richard Lochhead MSP (Scottish Parliament)
- Richard Lochhead MSP (Scottish Government)
- SNP Profile
| Scottish Parliament | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland 1999–2006 |
Succeeded by Maureen Watt |
| Preceded by | Member of the Scottish Parliament for Moray 2006–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment 2007–present |
Incumbent |
- Use dmy dates from May 2012
- Use British English from May 2012
- Pages with broken file links
- Ministers of the Scottish Government
- 1969 births
- Living people
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 1999–2003
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–07
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–11
- Scottish National Party MSPs
- Alumni of the University of Stirling
- Politics of Moray
- Politicians from Paisley
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–
- People educated at Williamwood High School
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