Colin Smyth (born November 1972) is a Scottish Labour and Co-operative politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the South Scotland region since 2016. A member of Scottish Labour, he served as its general secretary from 2008 to 2012.
Colin Smyth | |
|---|---|
 Smyth in 2017 | |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for South Scotland (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2016 | |
| Scottish Labour portfolios | |
| 2017–2021 | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity |
| 2021–present | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1972 (age 51–52) Dumfries, Scotland |
| Political party | Scottish Labour & Co-operative |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Website | Official website |
Early life and career
editSmyth was born in 1972.[1] He was raised in Dumfries, where he attended Maxwelltown High School. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a modern studies teacher.[2]
Political career
edit
Smyth became a Labour party organiser in 2003.[3] In 2008, he was appointed general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, succeeding Lesley Quinn.[4] In September 2012, Scottish Labour announced that Smyth would step down from the position at the party's conference in the following month.
In 2007, Smyth was elected to Dumfries and Galloway Council, representing the Nith Ward. He was re-elected to this position in 2012.[5] In October 2013, a Labour/SNP coalition was formed on Dumfries and Galloway Council[6] when Smyth was appointed Chair of the Planning, Housing and Environment Committee.
In 2016, Smyth was elected to the Scottish Parliament, as an additional member representing the South Scotland region.[7] He served as Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity under Richard Leonard from 2017 to 2021.[8]
Smyth nominated Anas Sarwar in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[9] After the leadership election, Sarwar appointed Smyth as Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs.[10]
At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Smyth was supported as a Labour Co-operative candidate for the first time.[11] He contested the constituency seat of Dumfriesshire, but was returned to the Scottish Parliament as a regional list member for South Scotland again.
Smyth backed the UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment, voting in the Scottish Parliament against calls to reverse the decision.[12]
Personal life
editSmyth is married to Victoria, an English teacher. Together they have two daughters, Hannah and Evie.[2][13] He is partly of Northern Irish descent.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Colin SMYTH - Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ a b c Shannon, Kate (4 October 2019). "Getting to know you: Colin Smyth MSP". Holyrood Website. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Labour unveils new top official". BBC News. 4 February 2008.
- ^ "Scottish Labour's Colin Smyth to step down as general secretary". BBC News. 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Member and Committee Information". Dumfries and Galloway Council. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Labour join SNP at council helm". 1 October 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Election 2016: South Scotland. Scottish Parliament region". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
- ^ "MSPs". Scottish Labour. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Scottish Leadership Election 2021 - Nominations". Scottish Labour. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (1 March 2021). "Sarwar unveils new 'campaign cabinet' to lead Scottish Labour into election". LabourList. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ "Introducing your Scottish Parliament candidate". Co-operative Party. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "How every MSP voted as Holyrood rejected the UK's Winter Fuel Payment cut". The National. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ Smyth, Colin (19 May 2020). "Comment: Colin Smyth MSP on lockdown with a young family". Holyrood Website. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
External links
edit- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Colin Smyth
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