Jamie Stone (politician)

Background

Stone has an MA in history and geology from University of St Andrews and graduated in 1977. Upon graduation he worked in a variety of fields including fish gutting before settling down to work in the oil industry. Before becoming an MSP, Stone spent thirteen years in local government. First, he was a member of the Ross and Cromarty District Council, and later he was a member of the Highland Council. Stone is married with three children, one son and two daughters, both of whom also attended the University of St Andrews. He is also a keen gardener and an expert on edible fungi.

Scottish Parliament career

As an MSP, Stone was the party spokesperson on housing and the deputy party spokesman on health, as well as being the convenor of the Subordinate Legislation Committee and a member of the Convenors’ Group.

Stone was also a member of the following cross-party groups: Convenor of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Russia, Co-convenor of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Oil and Gas, Co-convenor of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Tackling Debt, Co-convenor of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Economy, Deputy Convenor of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Civil Nuclear Energy, Deputy Convenor of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke, Member of the Buidheann Thar-Phartaidh na Gaidhlig, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Asthma, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Crofting, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Epilepsy, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Palliative Care, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Tartan Day, Member of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet, and Member of the cross-party group on Beer and the Brewing Industry

After becoming a Member of Scottish Parliament in 1999, Stone held the following posts: Deputy Convenor: Communities Committee, Member: Subordinate Legislation Committee, Member: Art Advisory Group, Member: Enterprise and Culture Committee, Member: Justice 1 Committee, Member: Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee, Substitute Member: Education Committee, Substitute Member: Audit Committee, Member: Finance Committee, Member: Equal Opportunities Committee, Member: Rural Development Committee, Member: Holyrood Progress Group, Member: Education, Culture and Sport Committee, and Member: Local Government Committee

In 2004, Stone was the captain of the Scottish Parliament's team, The Professionals, on the British television show, University Challenge. His fellow team members included Richard Baker (Labour), Robin Harper (Green), and Stewart Stevenson (SNP). The Professionals easily beat the Welsh Assembly's team with a final score of 110 points to 75, and also surpassed the record low score achieved of 25, which was achieved by the House of Commons in 2003.

In the 2012 Local Government Elections he was re-elected to the Highlands Council for the Tain and Easter Ross Ward.

In 2016, he stood for election at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross which was largely his former seat after boundary changes were made in 2011. However he finished 2nd and was unelected.

House of Commons parliamentary Career

Stone was elected as the Member of Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in the 2017 general election, defeating the incumbent SNP MP Paul Monaghan. On 16 June 2017 he was announced as the Liberal Democrat spokesman for Scotland.

Stone, had been re-elected for the Tain and Easter Ross Ward at 2017 Local Government elections a month earlier. He resigned his seat on Highland Council after he was elected as an MP.

After Davey's announcement, The Guardian observed: "Nominations do not close until next month, but Cable is the only candidate to have declared and there is no other Lib Dem MP seen as having the potential to beat him in a contest". By 29 June 2017, nine of the eleven other Liberal Democrat MPs had declared they would not be standing, leaving Christine Jardine and Jamie Stone (both only elected to Parliament in June 2017) as the only remaining potential competitors to Vince Cable who had not declared their intent.