Jeremy Balfour

Jeremy Balfour
MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Lothian
Assumed office
6 May 2016
Personal details
Born (1967-03-11) 11 March 1967
Edinburgh, Scotland
Political party Scottish Conservative Party
Alma mater University of Edinburgh
London Bible College

Jeremy Ross Balfour (born 11 March 1967) is a Scottish politician who is a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Member of Scottish Parliament for the Lothian region, elected in the Scottish Parliament election, 2016.

Background

Balfour was born with a physical disability which left him with no left arm and a right arm that ends at the elbow from which two elongated fingers protrude. He attended Edinburgh Academy and then the University of Edinburgh. After work as a solicitor he studied at London Bible College to become a Baptist minister.[1]

Political career

Balfour was elected to City of Edinburgh Council, representing Corstorphine/Murrayfield.

In 2016 he stood for the Scottish Parliament as the Conservative candidate for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, where he came third.[2] He was instead elected from the Lothian regional list.[3]

Balfour is the Scottish Conservative spokesperson for childcare and early years.[4] He sits on the Equal Opportunities Committee of the Scottish Parliament [5] Balfour is the only current MSP who openly identifies as a disabled person.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Disability is no obstacle in my life". scotsman. 24 November 2005.
  2. ↑ "Midlothian North and Musselburgh". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Lothian". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Conservative appointments for new parliamentary term". Scottish Conservative Party. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Membership". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Inclusion Scotland highlight the lack of disabled MSPs". Falkirk Herald. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  • profile at City of Edinburgh Council website
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