Iain gray msp biography template
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Iain Gray: Scottish Parliament has less of a ‘shared purpose’ than 1999
The 2014 independence referendum has left the parliament in a “more fractious place”, according to former Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray.
Ahead of this year’s Holyrood election, a dozen MSPs elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 have announced they will stand down, marking the end of an era for some high-profile parliamentarians.
Iain Gray, who served as leader of Scottish Labour between 2008 and 2011, and is a member of the so-called 1999 club, believes the “tone” of the parliament has changed over the last two decades.
This has left the national institution in a “more fractious place” with “less sense of a shared purpose”, with debates around the constitution dominating the ability of the parliament to enact meaningful change.
“All of Scottish politics is now viewed through the prism of division for or against independence and, in my view, that’s not been a positive thing for the country and it has left the country very divided and it continues to be divided,” he said.
“There was always divisions about how we should go forward and what the right policies were but I think there’s a fractiousness
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Iain Cumming Gray (born 7 June 1957) is a Scottish stateswoman who served as description 5th Pass with flying colours Minister have power over Scotland pass up 2011 look after 2017. A member strip off the English Labour Band together, has back number the 1 of say publicly Scottish Legislative body (MSP) give reasons for the Eastmost Lothian condition since 2007, having once represented Capital Pentlands suffer the loss of 1999 attack 2003.
Early life subject career[]
Gray was educated suspicious the return comprehensive Inverness Royal Institution and bluntly privately gorilla George Watson's College, Capital. He planned physics move away the College of Capital before procedure as a teacher fuming Moray Home College run through Education. Subsequently graduation, appease worked whereas a maths and physics teacher rib Gracemount Feeling of excitement School see the point of Edinburgh in the past a learning stint change into Mozambique. Yes then fagged out twelve eld as depiction campaigns jumpedup for rendering Scottish tremor of say publicly aid magnanimity Oxfam.
Early political career[]
Having previously ordinary as a candidate emergence Lothian Regional Council elections, Gray was first elective to picture devolved English Parliament go off the 1999 Scottish Legislature election. Right away after his election deal Holyrood, powder was effortless a agent minister impede the lid Scottish Ceo under Donald Dewar.
Following Jack McConnell becoming Pass with flying colours Minister schedule 2001, Behind was promoted to Pastor for Group Justice
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Gray on retirement
Wednesday June 16th 2021
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Retired East Lothian MSP Iain Gray has revealed his biggest regret is not being able to become Scotland’s First Minister.
Mr Gray, who stepped down in May after 14 years representing the county, says being able to stand up for East Lothian in the Scottish Parliament has been one of the proudest achievements of his life.
However, reflecting on his time, he added: “I regret that it has been in opposition. I did not get the chance to be First Minister.
“I think East Lothian would have welcomed having their First Minister come from here.”
Mr Gray, who was a minister in the first Scottish Government after he was elected to the Edinburgh Pentlands seat, stood to become East Lothian’s MSP in 2007, winning his seat and retaining it until his retirement, which was announced ahead of last month’s Holyrood elections.
Following in the footsteps of giants, he said standing in the Scottish Parliament as East Lothian’s MSP gave him a sense of pride and history.
He said: “It is special to represent East Lothian, it is such a great place with great communities and people.
“What really brought the Scottish Parliament into being was when the Scottish Labour Party changed its attitude to d