From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alasdair Morgan (born April 21, 1945) is a Scottish politician. He has been a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for the South of Scotland region since 2003. He first joined the SNP in 1974, where he has been active ever since in the party.

Early life

He went to Breadalbane Academy in Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross and the University of Glasgow where he studied Mathematics, Politics and Economics gaing an MA. He gained a BA degree from the Open University. He became a computer project manager in Edinburgh. From 1971-4 he was a teacher of Maths at Douglas Ewart High School in Newton Stewart. He was a Software Programmer at Shell from 1974-80. From 1980-4, he was a Systems Analyst at GE and a Computer Systems Team Leader at Fife Regional Council from 1984-6, moving to West Lothian Regional Council in 1986.

Parliamentary career

He contested Tayside North in 1983 and Dundee West in 1987.

He had previously been a Member of Parliament for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale at Westminster. He was elected at the 1997 general election and served for a time as leader of the SNP group in the House of Commons, but stepped down at the 2001 general election.

He then stood for the Scottish Parliament and became a constituency member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, between 1999 and 2003. where he held a majority of 3201. In The 2003 election, he lost his constituency seat to Alex Ferguson of the Scottish Conservative Party, by just 99 votes. However he has held the Additional Member System seat since 2003. During this Parliament, Morgan held such positions as Chief Whip and Business Manager. Also he was Deputy Convener of the Airdrie-Bathgate Railway and Linked Improvements Bill Committee. In May 2003 to September 2004 Morgan was also appointed as Scottish Parliamentary Group Convener.

In May 2007 Morgan became a Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and so must remain impartial while he is in the Presiding Officer's chair.

Personal life

He is married with two daughters. He lives in Crocketford in Dumfries and Galloway.

External links

• His website
• Scottish Parliament
• SNP
• They Work For You

Members of the Scottish Parliament in the South of Scotland region Elected in the 2007 election Labour (5 seats), SNP (5 seats), Conservative (4 seats), Lib Dems (2 seats) Constituency MSPs John Scott (Con, Ayr) • Cathy Jamieson (Lab, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) • Karen Gillon (Lab, Clydesdale) • Irene Oldfather (Lab, Cunninghame South) • Elaine Murray (Lab, Dumfries) • Iain Gray (Lab, East Lothian) • Alex Fergusson (Presiding Officer, Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) • John Lamont (Con, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) • Jeremy Purvis (Lib Dem, Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) Additional Members Derek Brownlee (Con) • Aileen Campbell (SNP) • Christine Grahame (SNP) • Jim Hume (Lib Dem) • Adam Ingram (SNP) • Alasdair Morgan (SNP) • Mike Russell (SNP)