Personal Statement: 

Member of Parliament for Argyll & Bute from 2001 until 2015. I also have sixteen years’ experience as a Councillor. My first successful election was in 1988 when I was elected to Renfrew District Council and represented a Paisley ward for 8 years.
 As a result, I have experience of winning elections in both urban and rural Scotland.
 I served from 2016 to 2021 as Convenor of the Scottish Campaigns and Candidates Committee.
 I want to put my experience to good use to help the Liberal Democrats recover our rightful position in Scottish politics.
 The Executive has a crucial role to play in the run-up to next year’s Scottish Elections and the Council Elections the following year. We need put in place the right processes to run a successful national campaign. We also need to train our candidates and give Local Parties the support and training they need to run effective campaigns.
 I believe my many years of experience, being the successful candidate in several elections, as well as an election agent for other successful Council candidates will be put to good use in the crucial elections over the next two years.

What skills/experience will you bring to the role?

Member of Parliament for fourteen years.
 Sixteen years’ experience as a Councillor. Have represented both urban and rural wards. Organised successful Council election campaigns on behalf of other candidates.
 Served for five years as Convenor of the Scottish Campaigns and Candidates Committee.
 Served for many years on the Scottish Executive and Campaigns and Candidates Committee.
 Have been on many training courses on campaigning techniques.
 Worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst, rising to project manager, before being elected to Parliament. This gave me a knowledge of Information Technology which has proven very useful in the social media side of political campaigning.

What do you hope to achieve if elected?

I wish to play my part in the Executive’s roles of agreeing the Party strategy and scrutinising the decisions made by the office bearers and Party committees. Also scrutinising the financial plans to make sure that these are sustainable and provide value for money.
 I also see it as important that the Executive keeps in touch and consults with Local Parties and party members.
 I would like to be one of the Executive members appointed to the Campaigns and Candidates Committee. On that Committee I want to help with the Party’s preparations for next year’s Scottish Election and the Councils elections the year after.