Ian Blackford

Banking and business

Blackford worked as an analyst with NatWest Securities,^[2] before moving to a managerial role. The company was bought by BT Alex. Brown, and Blackford became the managing director.^[3] After further integration into Deutsche Bank AG in 1999, Blackford ran Deutsche Bank's equity operations in Scotland and the Netherlands.^[4] Following 20 years in the financial industry, he left to do independent consultancy work, forming an investor relations company called First Seer in 2002.^[5]

In 2005, Blackford joined the Dutch baking products company CSM as an investor relations manager.^[6] He was appointed non-executive chairman of the Edinburgh-based telecommunications firm Commsworld in 2006,^[7] having joined the board as a non-executive director in 2005.^[5][8] He is a trustee at the Golden Charter Trust.^[9] In 2013, he helped explain the business case for not closing a primary school in Milngavie when East Dunbartonshire Council had proposed closure.^[10]

He is a prominent supporter of Hibernian football club.^[11]

Glendale Trust

He was previously the chairman of the Glendale Trust, an organisation responsible for a community-owned estate on Skye, which made an approach to Highland Council to bring a historic pier under community control.^[12] Under his chairmanship, support was secured for establishing a heritage centre in 2010.^[13] He had also been a member of the FlySkye group, campaigning to bring commercial air services back to Skye.^[14][15]

Political career

Blackford stood as the SNP candidate for the Ayr constituency at the 1997 general election, but was not elected.

Later in the year, he stood as the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate in the Paisley 1997 by-election^[16] but yet again, he was unsuccessful; with the contest having had the lowest turnout at a by-election in Scotland for thirty years.

Blackford had been treasurer of the SNP and during this time he began to be viewed as a critic of the party leader, Alex Salmond.^[17] Blackford was removed from the post in 2000, after he had tried to impose financial controls to tackle the party's overdraft.^[18] However, the limits for expenditure which he set were not adhered to.^[19] Blackford's reputedly hard line over financial matters had led to a breakdown of trust between the national executive and him.^[20]

Blackford has argued for better telecommunication infrastructure for rural areas, noting that video-conferencing is one way of overcoming travel time and in the absence of air links.^[21] Following the financial crisis of 2007–08 he has made calls for Scotland to have its own financial regulator, to protect society from irresponsible practices.^[22][23] Blackford has also suggested that a zero rate of capital gains tax could help Scotland to attract investment.^[24]

Following the independence referendum in September 2014, Blackford argued that Scotland should consider the constitutional change offered by the Westminster parties.^[25] He was the author of a report which had explored options for the banking sector in Scotland, had the country voted to become independent.^[26]

In January 2015, it was announced that Blackford would be the SNP candidate for Ross, Skye and Lochaber at the 2015 general election.^[27] He received 20,119 votes and 48.1% of the vote, defeating the former Liberal Democrat party leader and incumbent MP, Charles Kennedy; by 5,124 votes.^[28] Kennedy died less than a month later.

SNP Westminister leader

He was re-elected at the 2017 general election. On 14 June 2017, he was elected as leader of the SNP Westminster Group, succeeding Angus Robertson who had lost his seat.^[29] On 19 July he was appointed a member of the Privy Council.^[30] Additionally, he serves as a member of the secret Intelligence and Security Committee, which scrutinises the work of the UK intelligence agencies.