Richard Simpson (Scottish politician)

Dr.
Richard Simpson
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Mid Scotland and Fife
In office
3 May 2007 – 23 March 2016
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Ochil
In office
6 May 1999 – 1 May 2003
Preceded by Constituency Created
Succeeded by George Reid
Personal details
Born (1942-10-22) 22 October 1942
Edinburgh
Political party Scottish Labour Party
Spouse(s) Christine Simpson
Alma mater University of Edinburgh
Occupation Psychiatrist
Website www.richardsimpsonmsp.com

Richard John Simpson OBE (born 1942 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish Labour politician, and was Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Ochil constituency 1999–2003 and for the Mid-Scotland and Fife region 2007–2016. He is a member of Unite.

Medical career

Simpson was educated at Perth Academy, Trinity College Glenalmond, and the University of Edinburgh.[1]

A GP and psychiatrist prior to his election, Dr Simpson is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He was also a former associate member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons and a member of the faculty's working group on Prostate Cancer.

He was a founding member and Chair of the Strathcarron Hospice, Denny.

Between 2003 and 2007 he worked within Addiction medicine, first within Glasgow then as Consultant Psychiatrist in charge of the Drug Addiction Team of West Lothian.

Scottish Parliament

Simpson was elected in 1999 as the first MSP for Ochil. He was made the deputy Justice minister when Jack McConnell became First Minister in 2001. As a Minister, Dr Simpson launched the Scotland's People genealogy web page in 2002.[2]

Simpson was returned to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 as third on the Labour Regional list for Mid Scotland and Fife. He was the Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health for the Labour Party. In the 2007 parliament he was the Labour lead on the Health and Wellbeing Committee and also Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Groups in the Scottish Parliament on Drug and Alcohol Misuse and on Mental Health, and a Member of the Cross-Party Groups in the Scottish Parliament on Epilepsy, Golf, Palestine, Tobacco Control and Visual Impairment. In 2007, along with other opposition MSPs, he raised concerns about plans for local licensing boards to ban under 21 alcohol sales, stating that this would discriminate against young people who were responsible drinkers.[3]

At the election on 5 May 2011, he was again returned to Holyrood as a regional MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife. Simpson's campaigns in 2011 included 'Save Waterwatch',[4] the undergrounding of the electricity line from Beauly to Denny[5] and stop the running of night trains on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line.[6][7][8]

Simpson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to Scottish politics and public life.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Personal Information: Richard Simpson". Scottish Parliament website. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  2. ↑ General Register Office for Scotland – Simpson launches new website for genealogy enthusiasts Archived 17 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine.. Gro-scotland.gov.uk. Retrieved on 16 February 2011.
  3. ↑ BBC News – Alcohol age rise plan rejected. Bbc.co.uk (29 September 2010). Retrieved on 16 February 2011.
  4. ↑ News. Save Waterwatch. Retrieved on 18 March 2011.
  5. ↑ News Archived 6 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine.. Stirling Before Pylons. Retrieved on 16 February 2011.
  6. ↑ Night freight trains were always planned / News / Roundup / Articles / Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser. Alloaadvertiser.com (2 February 2011). Retrieved on 16 February 2011.
  7. ↑ Inquiry plea after night-train noise breaks health guideline – Herald Scotland | News | Transport & Environment. Herald Scotland (17 August 2010). Retrieved on 16 February 2011.
  8. ↑ Broomridge Community Council – The Trains Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.. Broomridgecommunitycouncil.org. Retrieved on 16 February 2011.
  9. ↑ "No. 61962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2017. p. B14.
Scottish Parliament
New constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament for Ochil
1999–2003		 Succeeded by
George Reid
Political offices
Preceded by
Iain Gray		 Deputy Minister for Justice
2001–2002		 Succeeded by
Hugh Henry
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