Richard Lochhead

Richard Neilson Lochhead (born 24 May 1969) is a Scottish politician who is Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science and has been the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Moray since 2006. He was previously a MSP for North East Scotland 1999–2006 and was the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment 2007–2016.

Richard Lochhead MSP
Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 September 2018
First Minister	Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded by	Shirley-Anne Somerville
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment
In office 17 May 2007 – 18 May 2016
First Minister	Alex Salmond Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded by	Ross Finnie
Succeeded by	Fergus Ewing
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Moray
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 April 2006
Preceded by	Margaret Ewing
Majority	2,875
Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland
In office 6 May 1999 – 19 April 2006
Preceded by	new parliament
Succeeded by	Maureen Watt
Personal details
Born	24 May 1969 Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Political party	Scottish National Party
Spouse(s)	Fiona Lochhead
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Stirling
Occupation	Office manager; Economic development officer
Website	www.richardlochhead.org

Background and early career

A native of Paisley, Lochhead attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston and Central College of Commerce in Glasgow before he graduated in 1994 in Political Studies from the University of Stirling. He worked for the SNP leader, Alex Salmond, as his Office Manager from 1994 to 1998, before becoming an environmental development officer for Dundee City Council.[1][2] He was the SNP candidate in Gordon in the 1997 UK General Election, where he finished third. He subsequently fought the Aberdeen Central constituency in both 1999 and 2003, but came second to Lewis Macdonald each time.

Scottish Parliament

Lochhead was elected to the Scottish Parliament at the 1999 election and re-elected at the 2003 election for the North East Scotland Region. In January 2006 he was selected as the SNP candidate for Moray for the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, following the announcement that Margaret Ewing MSP would be retiring. He beat Margaret Ewing's sister-in-law, former MP Annabelle Ewing in the selection.[3] Ewing's premature death triggered a by-election and Lochhead resigned his additional member seat in April 2006 in order to successfully contest the Moray by-election. He was elected on 28 April 2006.[4] This was the first time since the second world war that an incumbent party had retained a by-election seat without losing votes or having their majority or share of the vote lowered.

He was convener of the European and External Relations Committee of the Scottish Parliament 11 June 2003 – 14 September 2004. In opposition he held the SNP's portfolios on Environment, Energy, Fishing and Rural Affairs in the Scottish Parliament.[5]

After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, it was announced on 16 May 2007 that Lochhead would be the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, taking up the position the following day.[6] The junior Ministerial position of Minister for the Environment was initially given to Michael Russell (currently held by Aileen McLeod). In May 2007, Lochhead started his tenure with promises to "relentlessly" pursue the Scottish fishing interests on behalf of fishermen and their communities.[7]

Lochhead was re-elected at the 2011 election with a further increased majority of 10,944. He announced his resignation as Environment Secretary, effective on 18 May 2016, as Nicola Sturgeon put together her reshuffle to appoint the second Sturgeon government.[8]

On 31 August 2018 he was announced as Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science.[9]

Personal life

Lochhead is married to Fiona, and they have two children together.[8]

References

1. Black, Andrew (13 October 2010). "In profile: Richard Lochhead". BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
2. Davidson, Jenni (5 February 2016). "Interview with Richard Lochhead". Holyrood. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
3. "Salmond closer to Holyrood return". BBC News. BBC. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 22 March 2006.
4. "SNP's joy at by-election victory". BBC News. BBC. 28 April 2006.
5. "MSPs > Previous MSPs (session 2) > Richard Lochhead". www.parliament.scot. Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
6. "Salmond announces his new cabinet". BBC News. BBC. 16 May 2007.
7. "SNP to trawl for thoughts of fishermen". The Scotsman. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
8. "Richard Lochhead resigns from Scottish Government cabinet". The Scotsman. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
9. "Richard Lochhead to return to Scottish government". BBC News. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2020.

External links

• personal website
• Richard Lochhead MSP (Scottish Parliament)
• profile on SNP website