Andrew Welsh (politician)

Andrew Welsh
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Angus
In office 6 May 1999 – 22 March 2011
Preceded by	new constituency
Majority	8,243 (25.8%)
Member of the UK Parliament for Angus East Angus (1987–1997)
In office 11 June 1987 – 7 June 2001
Preceded by	Peter Fraser
Succeeded by	Michael Weir
Member of the UK Parliament for South Angus
In office 10 October 1974 – 3 May 1979
Preceded by	Jock Bruce-Gardyne
Succeeded by	Peter Fraser
Personal details
Born	19 April 1944 (aged 70) Glasgow, Scotland
Political party	Scottish National Party
Alma mater	Glasgow University
Religion	Church of Scotland

Andrew Paton Welsh DL (born 19 April 1944 in Glasgow)^[1] is a Scottish politician.

Early life

He was educated at Govan High School and Glasgow University. Welsh worked as a teacher before he became a politician.^[2]

Parliamentary career

House of Commons

Welsh contested Central Dunbartonshire in February 1974.

He was the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament (MP) for the House of Commons constituencies of South Angus from 1974 to 1979, East Angus from 1987 to 1997 and Angus from 1997 to 2001.^[1]

Scottish Parliament

Welsh was elected the first Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Scottish Parliament constituency of Angus in May 1999.^[3] He was appointed to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) during first years of the Parliament, when the various systems within the Parliament needed to be set up.^[4] He served on the SPCB until January 2006, making him the longest serving member of that body.^[5] Andrew Welsh retired as an MSP when his term ended on 22 March 2011 election.^[6][7]

Outside Parliament

From 1984 until 1987, he served as the Provost of Angus,^[4] the leader of Angus District Council and served on the Governing Court of the University of Dundee. Before being re-elected to the House of Commons at the 1987 General Election, he worked as a Senior Lecturer in Business Administration at Arbroath College in Angus.

A fluent speaker of French and Chinese (clarification required), he is an elder of the Church of Scotland in Arbroath, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

Previous positions

• SNP spokesperson, local government, housing and education (1997–2005)
• SNP chief whip (1989–1997)
• SNP chief whip (1978–1979)
• SNP deputy chief whip (1976–1977)
• SNP spokesperson, agriculture (1976–1979)
• SNP spokesperson, self-employed and small businesses (1975–1979)
• SNP spokesperson, local government (1974–1978)
• SNP spokesperson, housing (1974–1978)

Honours and awards

In May 2012, Welsh became a freeman of the County of Angus.^[8] In January 2013, he was announced as a Deputy Lieutenant for Angus.^[8]

References

1. "HANSARD 1803–2005: People (W): Mr Andrew Welsh". Hansard. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
2. Urquhart, Frank (29 March 2013). "Former SNP MP Andrew Welsh named Freeman of Angus". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
3. "Previous MSPs: Session 1 (1999-2003): Andrew Welsh". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
4. "Angus MSP Andrew Welsh to retire". STV News. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
5. "Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003-2007): Andrew Welsh". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
6. "Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007-2011): Andrew Welsh". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
7. "Former SNP bright lights say no to Holyrood comeback". The Scotsman. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
8. "New deputies for the county of Angus". Forfar Dispatch. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2015.

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs