Leader Annabel Goldie Name Murdo Fraser Nationality Scottish Role Scottish Politician | Succeeded by Jackson Carlaw Religion Church of Scotland | |
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Preceded by Andrew Welsh (as Deputy Convener of the Audit Committee) Born 5 September 1965 (age 58)
Inverness, Scotland ( 1965-09-05 ) Political party Scottish Conservative Party Party Scottish Conservative Party Education University of Aberdeen, Inverness Royal Academy Profiles | ||
Alma mater University of Aberdeen | ||
Members' Business - Scottish Parliament: 30th September 2014
Murdo MacKenzie Fraser (born 5 September 1965) is a Scottish politician and the former Deputy leader of the Scottish Conservative Party in the Scottish Parliament. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Mid Scotland and Fife region since 2001. He is currently the Conservative shadow spokesman for Finance.
Contents
- Members Business Scottish Parliament 30th September 2014
- Early life
- Political career
- Party leadership election
- Personal life
- References
Early life
Born in 1965, he was educated at Inverness Royal Academy. He studied law at the University of Aberdeen, and was chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives from 1989 to 1992.
After undertaking a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies, he worked as a solicitor in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, latterly as an associate with Ketchen and Stevens WS in Edinburgh, specialising in commercial law. Fraser lives with his wife and two children in Perthshire.
As a student at the University of Aberdeen, Fraser stole a plaque on campus honoring Nelson Mandela.
Political career
At the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary Election, he was an unsuccessful candidate for North Tayside, as he was in 2003 and 2007. He stood unsuccessfully for the House of Commons in the 1997 General Election in East Lothian, and in 2001 for the UK Parliament's North Tayside seat.
He became an MSP in 2001, after the resignation of Nick Johnston, as next name on the Conservative Party's Mid Scotland and Fife list. He was re-elected in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Previously the convenor of the Economy, Energy, and Tourism Committee, Fraser is a member of the Finance Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
He became deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives in November 2005 when Annabel Goldie became leader. After the 2011 election, at which 15 Conservative MSP's were elected, Annabel Goldie triggered a leadership election by announcing that she would stand down in Autumn 2011.
In June 2014, Fraser spoke in favour of reconstituting the United Kingdom on a federal basis.
Party leadership election
After being re-elected again in 2011, he announced in August his decision to seek the leadership of the Scottish Conservative Party, and launched his campaign on 4 September in Edinburgh. His launch plans included a commitment to further devolution to the Scottish Parliament from Westminster, as well as launching a new party to redefine the politics of Scotland, harnessing the support of the centre-right, but independent of the UK Conservative Party and with a new name and identity. Fraser was unsuccessful in his attempt to be elected party leader, losing out to Ruth Davidson, and following the election was succeeded as deputy leader by Jackson Carlaw.
Personal life
Fraser is a supporter of Rangers.