Latest news with #ScottishParliament
Scotsman
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Tributes paid following death of former Tory MSP Sir Jamie McGrigor
Colleagues remembered the politician as 'charismatic, funny and warm' Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Tributes have been paid following the death of former Conservative MSP Sir Jamie McGrigor at the age of 75. Sir Jamie served as an MSP for the Highlands and Islands for 17 years, from the dawn of devolution until 2016, and was later a councillor in Argyll and Bute. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay described him as "a true champion of the Highlands and Islands". Sir Jamie McGrigor, pictured outside the Scottish Parliament in 2006 | PA He said: "I'm deeply saddened to hear of Sir Jamie's death, and, on behalf of everyone in the Scottish Conservatives, send my condolences to his family and friends. "Sir Jamie excelled in a number of frontbench roles, including fisheries, and was popular and respected by colleagues from across the political spectrum." First Minister John Swinney also paid tribute on social media. "Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jamie McGrigor,' he wrote. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "We came from different political traditions and often held opposing views, but as an MSP, Jamie was a warm, engaging presence and was deeply committed to the Highlands and Islands. My thoughts are with his family and friends." Sir James Angus Rhoderick Neil McGrigor was born in London in 1949 and raised in Argyll, before attending Eton. He studied at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland and later worked in finance in London and in the commodities sector in Glasgow, as well as in farming. Sir Jamie stood unsuccessfully for the Western Isles in the 1997 general election, before being elected to the new Scottish Parliament, where he served as his party's spokesperson for fisheries, communities and sport. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In those early days of devolution, he was part of a group of MSPs who put on a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, offering a light-hearted look at Scottish politics. Sir Jamie sang a song. He later successfully drove forward legislation to establish an official register of tartans. Donald Cameron, a Tory peer who was previously a respected MSP, remembered him as 'charismatic, funny and warm'. He said: 'He never took himself too seriously but was deeply committed to the causes and communities of his home patch.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Ex-Highlands and Islands Tory MSP Sir Jamie McGrigor dies aged 75
Sir Jamie McGrigor, the former Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has died aged Jamie was elected to the first devolved Scottish Parliament in served as an MSP for 17 years and later as a Tory councillor in Argyll and Conservative leader Russell Findlay described Sir Jamie as "a true champion of the Highlands and Islands". He added: "I'm deeply saddened to hear of Sir Jamie's death, and, on behalf of everyone in the Scottish Conservatives, send my condolences to his family and friends."Sir Jamie excelled in a number of frontbench roles, including fisheries, and was popular and respected by colleagues from across the political spectrum."First Minister John Swinney also paid tribute to the veteran posted on X: "Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jamie McGrigor."We came from different political traditions and often held opposing views, but as an MSP, Jamie was a warm, engaging presence and was deeply committed to the Highlands and Islands."My thoughts are with his family and friends." Political career Sir James Angus Rhoderick Neil McGrigor was born in London in 1949, to a family with connections to Argyll, where he was raised, and educated at Eton graduated with a degree in commercial French at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, before working in finance in London, and in the commodities sector in was also a farmer, and started a trout farm in Argyll in the Jamie stood as the Conservative candidate in the Western Isles in the 1997 general election, before being elected to the Scottish Parliament two years was a Scottish Conservative spokesman on fisheries, communities and stood down in 2016, becoming a councillor for the South Oban and Islands Ward on Argyll and Bute Council between 2017 and 2022.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Russell Findlay remembers 'respected' Tory MSP dead at 75
Sir Jamie served in the Scottish Parliament between 1999 and 2016 as a list MSP for the Highlands and Islands. He went on to join Argyll and Bute Council in 2017, serving as a councillor for Oban South and the Isle until 2022. Born in London in 1949, Sir Jamie was educated at Cladich Primary School in Argyll and at Eton College. After graduating from the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland, Sir Jamie worked in finance in London before starting a trout farm in Argyll. During his time in Holyrood, he served as Scottish Conservatives spokesperson on fisheries, communities, and sport. Former MSP Sir Jamie McGuire. (Image: Gordon Terris) Scottish Conservative Party leader Russell Findlay told the BBC: "I am deeply saddened to hear of Sir Jamie's death, and on behalf of all Scottish Tories, I would like to send my condolences to his family and friends. "After being elected to the reconstituted Scottish Parliament in 1999, he stood firm for the interests of the Highlands and Islands for 17 years as a committed MSP. "He did an excellent job in several frontbench positions, including fisheries, he was very popular and was respected by his colleagues regardless of their politics." Sir Jamie was remembered by former Conservative colleagues on social media. Aberdeenshire West and North Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie wrote: 'Very sad to hear of the death of Jamie McGrigor, a lifelong servant to Scotland and the Scottish Tories. 'One of the class of 1999, an MSP through to 2017, and then councillor for Oban until 2022, he was one of the best. Respected on all sides. He will be greatly missed.' Former Scottish Conservative boss Douglas Ross added: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of Jamie McGrigor. Jamie was a kind and dedicated MSP who served the Highlands and Islands with real passion and commitment. 'My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.' Read more: Extraterrestrial rays to power music performance at Edinburgh Fringe Fresh calls to dual A96 as £65m repair bill for trunk road revealed Why does everyone seem to hate Maggie Chapman? Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser noted: 'Very sorry to hear of the passing of my friend and former colleague & Highlands & Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor. 'A passionate voice for his Highland constituents, he was outstanding company and a tremendous character. Jamie, you - and your guitar - will be greatly missed.' MSP Liz Smith added on Facebook: 'So very sorry to learn of the death of Jamie McGrigor - one of the Scottish Parliament's great characters, passionate ambassador for the Highlands and kind and gracious colleague.'
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Three men arrested under Terrorism Act after Scottish Parliament protest
Three men aged 78, 60 and 58 years have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with alleged support for a proscribed organisation. Three men have been arrested in Edinburgh under the Terrorism Act 2000 after they were accused of displaying signs showing support for a proscribed organisation. A 58-year-old man was arrested near the Scottish Parliament on Monday, July 21, with two others, aged 60 and 78, detained at a protest on Saturday. Reports are due to be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in all cases. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Three men aged 78, 60 and 58 years have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with alleged support for a proscribed organisation. "Reports will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and enquiries are ongoing.' The identity of the banned group has not yet been revealed. The latest arrests were confirmed by Police Scotland as three women appeared in court on Monday after a van was allegedly driven into a fence at an Edinburgh arms factory last week. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Niaomi Stubbs-Gorman, 31, Susan Riddell, 42, and Allegra Fitzherbert, 34, all appeared on petition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday via videolink. The trio made no plea on charges of malicious mischief, aggravated by having a "terrorist connection", after a van was allegedly driven into the fence of the Leonardo factory in the Crewe Road North area of the capital on July 15.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Voting at 16 can make elections a habit
Sixteen and 17 year olds in Scotland have been able to vote in Holyrood and council elections for more than a decade. And thanks to last week's announcement by the UK Government, that will now be extended to Westminster elections too. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It's a logical move and fulfils a Labour election pledge, but UK-wide polls suggest nearly half voters oppose it, so the case will have to be made again. Scotland introduced votes at 16 for the 2014 independence referendum and then extended it to Scottish Parliament and council elections. Those who first got the vote at 16 were more likely to vote in subsequent elections, researchers found Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The year after the referendum, a study found 16 and 17 year-olds in Scotland were more engaged with politics - researching issues, taking part in demonstrations, signing petitions and engaging with elected representatives - than people of the same age elsewhere in the UK. Sadly, the effect did not seem to last. Research by Edinburgh University academics in the context of the last Scottish Parliament elections in 2021 concluded that the lowering of the voting age had not led to any long-term increase in political engagement among young people. But what did last was an increased likelihood of turning out to vote. The research by Jan Eichhorn and Christine Hübner found those who first became entitled to vote at 16 were more likely to turn out at the 2021 election than those who were first able to vote at 18 or older. And this applied not only to those who first got the vote at the referendum, but also those who became eligible at subsequent elections. The researchers say: "This suggests a lasting positive effect of being allowed to vote from 16 on young people's voter turnout as they grow up." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Opponents will claim that at 16 people are not mature enough to vote. The same argument was made when the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1969. Indeed, the Speaker's Conference, a cross-party body looking at election rules, recommended only reducing it to 20. But the Labour government had already accepted another committee's recommendations to lower the age of majority to 18, so decided the voting age should follow suit. The latest change will bring England into line with Scotland and Wales, which also has votes at 16 for Senedd and council elections. The next challenge is to increase citizenship education, give young people more opportunities for genuine engagement and show them it can make a difference.
