Preceded by Ian Welsh Role Scottish politician | Name John Scott Majority 1,113 (3.34%) | |
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Born 7 June 1951 (age 73)
Ayr ( 1951-06-07 ) Political party Scottish Conservative Party Party Scottish Conservative Party | ||
Education George Watson's College | ||
William John Graham Scott (born 7 June 1951) is a Scottish farmer and politician. He is the Scottish Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Ayr.
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Background
Born in Girvan, Scott was educated at Barrhill Primary in South Ayrshire and George Watson's College in Edinburgh. He has a Bachelor of Science degree for Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburgh.
Scott played for the Wigtownshire Rugby Club from 1969–73, a hobby he enjoys to this day.
Scott established the Ayrshire Farmers Market in 1999 and founded the Scottish Association for Farmers in 2001. He tends to his farm in Balkissock outside of Ballantrae in South Ayrshire, whilst also owning a flat in the town of Ayr.
Political career
John Scott stood as the Conservative candidate for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley at the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, finishing third behind Labour and the Scottish National Party with 8,123 votes (19.8%). He has served as constituency MSP for Ayr since winning the constituency in a by-election in 2000. He was returned to Parliament at the 2003 Scottish Parliamentary election and again, with an increased majority, at the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary election. At the 2011 and 2016 elections he retained the constituency with a reduced majority, despite seeing his vote increase by 3,564 between 2007 and 2016.
Scott declared his support for Ruth Davidson in the Scottish Conservative leader election. On 11 May 2011, he was elected by MSPs to serve as one of the two Deputy Presiding Officers of the Scottish Parliament. He served until 2016 when he was unsuccessful in his attempt to become Presiding Officer.
Scott is the Scottish Conservative spokesperson for sustainable development, having previously served as spokesperson for the environment from 2001 until 2003 and as spokesperson on rural affairs from 2007 until 2011. He was appointed as the convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee of the Scottish Parliament in June 2016.