Colin Keir

Colin Keir
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Edinburgh Western
In office
7 May 2011 – 23 March 2016
Preceded by Margaret Smith
Succeeded by Alex Cole-Hamilton
Personal details
Born (1959-12-09) 9 December 1959
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Political party Scottish National Party

Colin George Keir (born 9 December 1959) is a Scottish politician, formerly the Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Edinburgh Western constituency 2011−2016. Before being elected as a MSP, he was a councillor.

Early life

Keir was born on 9 December 1959[1] in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated at Craigmount High School and Stevenson College.[2] He is a former Scottish Schools 5000 metres champion and cross-country international.

Political career

Between 2007 and 2012 he was a councillor for Drum Brae/Gyle ward on The City of Edinburgh Council. He was Convener of the council's Regulatory Committee.[3]

Keir contested the seat of Edinburgh Western in the Scottish Parliament general election, 2011, and defeated the Liberal Democrat incumbent Margaret Smith with a substantial swing to win with a margin of 2,689 votes.[4]

In August 2015, after serving just one term, Keir was heavily defeated in his attempt to be re-nominated as the SNP candidate in Edinburgh Western for the 2016 election. Keir was beaten by Toni Giugliano, a member of the party's national executive committee, who had received the backing of former leader Alex Salmond.[5] During his campaign for re-selection Keir had issued campaign literature emphasising his support for a second independence referendum.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/memberspages/colin_keir/index.htm
  2. ↑ "About: Colin Keir". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Taxi rules call to slam door on gangsters muscling in to trade". Edinburgh Evening News. 14 June 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "Vote 2011: Scotland elections: Constituencies: Edinburgh Western". BBC News. 11 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "SNP MSP Colin Keir deselected for 2016 vote". Edinburgh Evening News. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
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