Bill Aitken (politician)
Encyclopedia
Bill Aitken is a Scottish Conservative politician. He was Glasgow List
MSP
, Party Spokesperson on Justice, and was Convener of the Justice Committee.
and educated at Allan Glen's School
. He worked in the Financial Services/Insurance Industry for 34 years (1965–1999). He is a supporter of Partick Thistle Football Club. His interests include sports, reading and foreign travel.
Following involvement in youth politics he was elected a Glasgow City Councillor in 1976 subsequently becoming the Convener of the Licensing Committee and Vice Convener of the Personnel Committee. He served as Leader of the Opposition for two terms prior to becoming MSP for Glasgow in 1999. He was also a District Court Judge
(1985–2000), and is also a Justice of the Peace
and a Deputy Lord Lieutenant
of the City of Glasgow (1993–present).
Since his election to the Scottish Parliament
, he has been Conservative Party Spokesman on Housing and Justice prior to becoming Chief Whip
in 2003. He is currently Scottish Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice and also the Convener of the Parliament’s Justice Committee. He was a trustee of the Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund
.
On 19 May 2010, it was announced that he would step down at the next Holyrood election
. In February 2011 he caused controversy when he suggested that a woman who was recently gang-rape
d in Glasgow may have been a prostitute, as the victim claimed that she was dragged from one side of the city centre to another, a location known for prostitution. On 21 February he resigned as convenor of the Scottish Parliament justice committee in response to this controversy.
Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
Glasgow is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament , which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
, Party Spokesperson on Justice, and was Convener of the Justice Committee.
Background, education and career
Aitken was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and educated at Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School was for most of its existence a selective fee-paying independent secondary school for boys in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by the Allan Glen's Endowment Scholarship Trust on the death in 1850 of Allan Glen, a successful Glasgow tradesman and businessman, "to give a good...
. He worked in the Financial Services/Insurance Industry for 34 years (1965–1999). He is a supporter of Partick Thistle Football Club. His interests include sports, reading and foreign travel.
Following involvement in youth politics he was elected a Glasgow City Councillor in 1976 subsequently becoming the Convener of the Licensing Committee and Vice Convener of the Personnel Committee. He served as Leader of the Opposition for two terms prior to becoming MSP for Glasgow in 1999. He was also a District Court Judge
District Courts of Scotland
A District Court was the least authoritative type of criminal court in Scotland. The court operated under summary procedure and dealt primarily with minor criminal offences...
(1985–2000), and is also a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and a Deputy Lord Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of the City of Glasgow (1993–present).
Since his election to the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
, he has been Conservative Party Spokesman on Housing and Justice prior to becoming Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
in 2003. He is currently Scottish Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice and also the Convener of the Parliament’s Justice Committee. He was a trustee of the Scottish Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund
MSPs' Salaries, Expenses and Allowances
Members of the Scottish Parliament are entitled to a salary, and where applicable, expenses and allowances.The Scotland Act 1998 provides for pay and allowances to MSPs, officeholders of the Scottish Parliament and Ministers...
.
On 19 May 2010, it was announced that he would step down at the next Holyrood election
Scottish Parliament election, 2011
The 2011 Scottish Parliament general election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament.The election delivered the first majority government since the opening of Holyrood, a remarkable feat as the mixed member proportional representation system is used to...
. In February 2011 he caused controversy when he suggested that a woman who was recently gang-rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
d in Glasgow may have been a prostitute, as the victim claimed that she was dragged from one side of the city centre to another, a location known for prostitution. On 21 February he resigned as convenor of the Scottish Parliament justice committee in response to this controversy.