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'The environment minister has not broken any rules by acquiring sole rights to his Edinburgh
mortgage, but it does show the lengths to which MSPs go to claim the perk. Finnie yesterday said he and his wife changed the ownership of the property in order to claim the allowance.' Paul Hutcheon Scottish Political Editor in the Sunday Herald, 5 th November 2006. |
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1. Ross Finnie MSP (Also standing in Greenock & Inverclyde constituency) |
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| Liberal Democrat | ||
| Ross Finnie was born on the 11 the February 1947 in Greenock and was educated at Greenock Academy. He worked as an Audit Assistant Arthur Anderson & Co., in Glasgow from 1970 to 1973 ad then as a Manager of Corporate Finance for the British Bank of Commerce Ltd from 1973 to 1974. He then became a Manager of Corporate Finance for James Findlay Bank Ltd (Glasgow) from 1974 to 1978 and from 1978 to 1986 he was Director of Corporate Finance. He then became Local Director for Glasgow Corporate Finance Singer & Friedlander Ltd from 1986 to 1991 and in 1991 until his election as an MSP he was a Chartered Accountant at his own company, Ross Finnie & Co (Chartered Accountant & Corporate Finance Advisers). He was also a Non-executive Director for Boko Holdings Ltd, Mico Ltd and Systems Reliability Scotland Ltd from 1992 to 1999. He was a Liberal Inverclyde District Cllr from 1977 to 1996 and an Inverclyde Cllr from 1995 until 1999. Finnie was also chair of the Scottish Liberals from 1982 until 1986. Ross Finnie is the only Executive Minister to have held the same position (Rural Affairs/Development) since 1999 - with the addition of the Environment when Dr Sam Galbraith resigned. In November 2005, the Sunday Herald revealed that his wife, Phylis Finnie had signed over her rights to an Edinburgh property in order to allow her husband to claim £2,500 in mortgage interest payments. Ministerial positions May 1999 - November 2001- Minister for Rural Affairs October 2000 - March 2001 - Minister for Rural Development March 2001 - Minister for Environment & Rural Development Recent electoral experience. 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Greenock & Inverclyde, 6,665 votes (28.03 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, First on LibDem West of Scotland list, 31,580 votes (12.28 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Greenock & Inverclyde, 7,504 votes (26.20 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, First on LibDem West of Scotland list, 34,095 votes (10.98 %) (elected) 1995 Inverclyde Council election, Ward 17, 1,176 votes (62.42 %) (elected) 1992 Inverclyde District Council election, (elected) 1988 Inverclyde District Council election, (elected) 1984 Inverclyde District Council election, (elected) 1983 Westminster election, Stirling, 10,174 votes (23.88 %) 1980 Inverclyde District Council election, (elected) 1979 Westminster election, West Renfrewshire, 7,256 votes (11.43 %) 1977 Inverclyde District Council election, (elected) | ||
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2. Cllr Dr Gordon MacDonald (Also standing in Eastwood constituency) |
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| Liberal Democrat | ||
| Gordon MacDonald was brought up in Milngavie and studied in Glasgow. He obtained a PHD in economics. In 2003 he won the East Dunbartonshire Council ward of Lenzie from sitting Labour Cllr Anne Cameron who was beaten into third place. Recent electoral experience 2003 East Dunbartonshire Council election, Lenzie, 1,267 votes (56.29 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Falkirk East, 2,509 votes (7.13 %) | ||
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3. Cllr Eileen McCartin JP (Also standing in Paisley South constituency) |
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| Liberal Democrat | ||
| Eileen McCartin is leader of the Lib Dem group on Renfewshire Council. She has contested Paisley constituencies at seven parliamentary elections, doing best at her first attempt in 1983 when she came second for the SDP in Paisley North with 23.7 % of the vote. She is a member of the appeals board, the community and family care policy board, the leadership board and the Paisley South West local grant board. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster Parliament election, Paisley & Renfewshire South, 6,672 votes (17.62 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Paisley South, 3,517 votes (14.08 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Second on Lib Dem West of Scotland list, 31,580 votes (12.28 %) 2003 Renfrewshire Council election, Stanley, 1,208 votes (61.16 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Second on Lib Dem West of Scotland list, 34,095 votes (10.98 %) 1999 Renfrewshire Council election, Stanley, 1,374 votes (58.52 %) (elected) 1997 Westminster Parliament by-election, Paisley South, 2,582 votes (11.08 %) 1997 Westminster Parliament election, Paisley South, 3,500 votes (9.37 %) 1995 Renfrewshire Council election, Ward 8, 1,015 votes (70.24 %) (elected) 1992 Westminster Parliament election, Paisley North, 2,779 votes (8.16 %) As a Social Democratic Party candidate 1987 Westminster Parliament election, Paisley North, 5,741 votes (15.78 %) 1983 Westminster Parliament election, Paisley North, 8,195 votes (23.67 %) | ||
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4. Cllr Cathy McInnes (Also standing in Strathkelvin & Bearsden constituency) |
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| Liberal Democrat | ||
| Deputy Provost of East Dunbartonshire, Cllr Cathy McInnes, is the Lib Dem candidate in Strathkelvin & Bearsden. She has been a local councillor for West Kirkintilloch & Torrance since 1999. She stood for the Scottish Parliament on the West of Scotland list in 1999 and 2003. She worked in Education / employment and housing Volunteer Representative at Employment Tribunals/ Sheriff Court (C.A.B). She is a Board Member of East Dunbarton C.A.B Board, a Member of East Dunbartonshire Enterprise Trust Management Committee and a Member of Contact Point (info service for people with disabilities). She is also an Ambassador for GirlGuiding Scotland. Her interests include reading, walking, badmington, swimming, theatre and cinema. Council positions Deputy Provost of East Dunbartonshire Recent electoral experience 2003 Local Council election, East Dunbartonshire, West Kirkintilloch & Torrance, 1,067 votes (51.65 %) (elected) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Sixth on Lib Dem West of Scotland list, 31,580 votes (12.28 %) 1999 Local Council election, East Dunbartonshire, West Kirkintilloch & Torrance, 1,062 votes (43.13 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Fifth on Lib Dem West of Scotland list, 34,095 votes (10.98 %) 1995 Local Council election, East Dunbartonshire, North Kirkintilloch & Torrance, 592 votes (29.91 %) 1994 Strathclyde Regional Council election, Kirkintilloch, 1,768 votes (20.64 %) 1992 Strathkelvin District Council election | ||
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5. Simon Hutton (Also standing in Renfrewshire West constituency) |
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| Liberal Democrat | ||
| Simon Hutton was born and brought up in Renfrewshire and educated at Glasgow University. He still lives with his family in Renfrewshire. Commenting on his selection Simon said: "I look forward to leading key Liberal Democrat campaigns in West Renfrewshire supporting a fair alternative to the Council Tax, improved state pensions and a cleaner, greener environment." "Following the historic by-election victory in Dunfermline earlier this year it's clear that the Scottish Liberal Democrats are the real alternative to Tony Blair's discredited Labour party."
Recent electoral experience | ||
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6. Helen Watt (Not standing in a constituency) |
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| Liberal Democrat | ||
| Helen Watt was born in 1950 and educated at Napiershall Primary, Woodside Secondary and the University of Glasgow where she studied computing. She worked at the University of Glasgow as a Research Assistant, Tutor, Lecturer, Staff Development Officer, and IT Officer. She was Council Election Agent in West Kirkintilloch & Torrance in 2003, has been co-ordinator of East Dunbartonshire & Clydebank LP Development Plan since 2004, has been a member, of the Scottish Lib Dem Party Campaigns & Candidates Committee since 2004 and contested Airdrie & Shotts is 2005. She was Convener of East Dunbartonshire & Clydebank Lib Dems from 2002 to 2004, Secretary of the West of Scotland Regional Lib Dem Party from 2002 to 2004 and has been its Convener since 2004. She is a member of the executive of the Scottish Lib Dems and has been Vice Convenor of the Scottish Party since 2006. Her interests include cooking, gardening, reading and walking.
Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, Airdrie & Shotts, 3,792 votes (11.44 %) | ||
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7. Angela McGarrigle (Also standing in Paisley North constituency) |
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| Liberal Democrat | ||
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Recent electoral experience | ||
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