Succeeded by Mark McDonald Succeeded by Joe Fitzpatrick Majority 7,175 (26.9%) Name Brian Adam | First Minister Alex Salmond Partner Alicia Grimaldi (2004–) Preceded by Bruce Crawford | |
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Preceded by Elaine Thomson
2003 Aberdeen North Role Singer-songwriter · bryanadams.com Children Mirabella Bunny Adams, Lula Rosylea Adams Albums Reckless, So Far So Good, Waking Up the Neighbours, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimar, Bare Bones Profiles | ||
Brian James Adam (10 June 1948 – 25 April 2013) was a Scottish politician and biochemist. He served as a Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) from 1999−2013.
Contents
- Background
- Political career
- Member of the Scottish Parliament
- Spokesperson posts
- Parliamentary posts
- References
He was an MSP for the North East Scotland region from 1999 to 2003, then for the Aberdeen North constituency from 2003 to 2011, for the Aberdeen Donside constituency from 2011 until his death in 2013. From 2007 to 2011 he was Chief Whip for the minority SNP Government and Co-Convener of the Oil and Gas Cross Party Group. He was the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Chief Whip from May 2011 to September 2012.
Background
Adam was born in Newmill, a hamlet near Keith, Moray, Banffshire in 1948. He attended Keith Grammar School. He obtained an BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and a MSc in Clinical Pharmacology from University of Aberdeen. He began his career with Glaxo in Montrose, Angus from 1970 to 1973, before working as a biochemist at City Hospital, Aberdeen from 1973 to 1988.
From 1988, Adam worked as the principal biochemist in the National Health Service at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and was a trade union activist prior to his election in 1999. He was a father of five and has three grandchildren. He lived in Aberdeen and was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). Brian Adam was also an avid follower of Aberdeen Football Club and attended the majority of their games.
Political career
Brian Adam joined the SNP in 1974.
He served three terms as a councillor for Middlefield and Heathryfold on Aberdeen District Council (1988–1996) and on Aberdeen City Council from 1995 until his election to the Scottish parliament in 1999.
He stood as a candidate for the Aberdeen North constituency at the 1997 election for Westminster but Labour held the seat with a majority of 10,000.
Member of the Scottish Parliament
In the first election to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 he contested Aberdeen North. Labour won the seat but with a majority of just 398. Adam was elected from the regional list as the second North East Scotland regional MSP in 1999.
In the 2003 election he stood for the Aberdeen North constituency, this time winning the seat from Labour with a majority of 457.
He held the constituency in the 2007 election with an increased majority of 3,749, and then again in 2011 in the renamed Aberdeen Donside with a majority of 7,175.
After struggling with a long illness, his death from cancer was announced on 25 April 2013. Then First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to Adam as "an outstanding politician, fine human being and a dear friend."
Spokesperson posts
Parliamentary posts
In June 2003 he became the Convener of the Standards Committee.