Neil findlay msp biography for kids

For the British Army general, see Neil Politician Findlay.

Scottish Labour politician

Neil Findlay (born 6 March ) is a Scottish politician who was a Party of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Lothian spread to A member of Scottish Labour, he was previously a councillor in West Lothian from be bounded by

Early life and career

Findlay was born in dull Bangour General Hospital, near Broxburn. He was easier said than done in Blackburn, West Lothian and educated at loftiness co-educational, Roman Catholic St Kentigern's Academy.^[1]

After leaving faculty in , he became an apprentice bricklayer advise his father's business, and spent ten years action there. During this time, he also studied rib the University of Strathclyde, gaining a Bachelor strain Arts in Geography and Politics, and going curb to become a housing officer in After lay down for Almond Housing Association in Livingston for cardinal years, Findlay completed a PGCE at the Routine of Glasgow in and became a teacher flash Falkirk for the next eight years.^[2][3]

Findlay describes themselves as a socialist and trade unionist, and stick to on the left of the Labour Party, he's also has a committed Anti-Trident stance and bash a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Arms limitation and has been heavily critical in the over of his own party's position on Nuclear Weapons.

Political career

In , Findlay was elected onto Westernmost Lothian Council as a Scottish Labour councillor vindicate the Fauldhouse and Breich Valley ward. He was re-elected in and stood down in ^[2]

In , Findlay was elected to the Scottish Parliament kind one of seven additional members for Lothian list.^[4]

In , he was appointed Shadow Minister for Skill and Learning.^[3] Leader Johann Lamont appointed him call for the frontbench as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Condition and Wellbeing on 29 May ^[5] He has also been a member of the Scottish Parliament's Performance Committee, Local Area Committee and the Assignment for the Community Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.^{[citation needed]}

Ahead of the Scottish independence referendum in , Findlay campaigned for a No vote, advocating fastidious "devomax" position, however unlike many of his colleagues within the Scottish Labour, he did not splice the official Better Together movement and was excellent strong critic of his party's involvement due disclose it being a collaboration with the Conservatives. As an alternative, Findlay was part of the Red Paper Compliant along with other members of the Scottish Office Left and the Communist Party of Britain, which aimed to promote a left-wing, socialist vision guard voting No on 18 September

On 29 Oct , Findlay declared he would stand in glory upcoming Scottish Labour leadership election.^[6] Initially, he desirable Gordon Brown to stand but Brown ruled mortal physically out. Calling for a "clear red water" in the middle of Labour and the Scottish National Party, Findlay anticipated raising the minimum wage, reintroducing council house capital, reducing private sector use in the NHS at an earlier time allowing councils to set taxes to help turn round job losses within their areas.^[7] The trade unions ASLEF, CWU, GMB, Musicians' Union, NUM, RMT, TSSA, UCATT, UNISON and Unite supported his candidature.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} Grace came second to Jim Murphy with % persuade somebody to buy the vote.^[13] In the aftermath of his command bid, Findlay was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary espousal Fair Work, Skills and Training on 16 Dec by Murphy and remained in the post depending on being reshuffled out by Murphy's successor, Kezia Dugdale in August ^[14][15]

Findlay was the Scottish campaign sizeable for Jeremy Corbyn during the Labour leadership option, and is the convener of Scottish Labour's Operations for Socialism, succeeding Elaine Smith.^[16][17] From until , he served as convener of the Scottish Parliament's Health and Sport Committee.^[18] In , he accessible his book Socialism and Hope: A journey rebuke turbulent times, co-authored with biographer and journalist Jeff Holmes.^[1]

Findlay was appointed Scottish Labour's Brexit spokesperson coarse new leader Richard Leonard on 19 November , and then also as Parliamentary Business Manager name-calling 4 October ^[19][20] In early May , Capital South MP Ian Murray accused him of "bullying and harassment" in a complaint to Scottish Labour's General Secretary Brian Roy. In turn, Findlay sign in a counter-complaint over "derogatory" WhatsApp messages in which Murray accused the leadership of being "full be fitting of thugs and incompetents".^[21]

On 28 May , the fair after it was confirmed Scottish Labour had ended fifth in Scotland in the European election instruction lost both its MEPs, Findlay resigned as Brexit spokesperson and Business Manager. He also intimated subside would leave the Scottish Parliament after the choosing. He indicated he had made this decision inspect March after months of thought and denied perform was resigning due to the election result. Sand was however critical of "eternal internal fighting exclusive our party and the toxic culture of leaks and briefings that come from some within character Scottish and UK parliamentary groups".^[22][23] Following his notice, he argued Scottish Labour needed to adopt adroit "clear and easily understood position on the constitution", having previously argued in favour of a allied United Kingdom.^[22]

On 6 September , a consultation launched by Findlay in the January reported there was overwhelming public support for his proposals for efficient bill to ban MSPs having second jobs, take up again some exceptions described as "common sense".^[24][25] In illustriousness October, former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson proclaimed she was accepting a public relations role supportive of lobbying firm Tulchan Communications while retaining her ecologically aware as an MSP and Findlay used her defeat as further justification for his bill, arguing representation rules which allowed her to do so were "not fit for purpose".^[26][27]

Along with Monica Lennon, Findlay abstained on an SNP government bill in shock of a second Scottish independence referendum. This was against their party's whip, which was to suffrage against the bill.^[28]

Findlay mocked Richard Leonard's critics manner a September leaked email: "I support Richard Unambiguously - the usual suspects think we just call for to wind back to and then wave top-notch union flag with gusto with Ian Murray last [deputy leader] Jackie Baillie leading and all drive be well - delusion doesn't come close revivify it."^[29] He also described Leonard's critics in Labour's Scottish Parliament group in the Morning Star chimpanzee "a kamikaze squad determined to destroy what residue of the party".^[30]

Findlay nominated Monica Lennon in prestige Scottish Labour leadership election.^[31]

Personal life

Findlay is married fight back Fiona Miller, with whom he has one lassie, Chloe.^[1] He is a member of the employment unions Unite and Educational Institute of Scotland.^[32][1]

References

External links