Jim Mather
Encyclopedia
Jim Mather is a Scottish National Party
politician, former Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and until the 2011 election, Member
of the Scottish Parliament
for Argyll and Bute
.
Mather was educated at Paisley Grammar School
and Greenock High School before attending the University of Glasgow
. Before his election to Holyrood he worked as a chartered accountant
and ran his own business. He joined the SNP in 1996 and acted as the SNP’s National Treasurer from 2000.
He is credited with making the Economic Case for Scottish Independence, having taken the argument to the media, boardrooms and committee rooms across Scotland between 2001 and 2007.
He was the SNP candidate in the 2000 Ayr by-election
and was their candidate for Argyll and Bute at the 2003 where he came third. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament
as a regional list member for the Highlands and Islands. In opposition he was the SNP's Shadow Enterprise and Economy Minister.
Mather contested Argyll and Bute again at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election
and was successful, winning the seat from George Lyon of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
.
After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election
, Mather was appointed Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
and held that post for 4 years until the end of the 2011 parliament.
Jim Mather retired as an MSP at the 2011 election.
He is currently a visiting professor with the University of Strathclyde, a director of the Strathclyde Institute of Operations Management, chairman of Gael Ltd. and non-executive director with Bloxx Limited.
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
politician, former Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and until the 2011 election, Member
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:...
of 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...
for Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Argyll and Bute is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the first past the post method of election...
.
Mather was educated at Paisley Grammar School
Paisley Grammar School
Paisley Grammar School, known for a period following 1896 as the Paisley Grammar School and William B. Barbour Academy, is a non-denominational state comprehensive secondary school in Paisley, the largest town in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The school was founded in 1576 and was formerly a selective...
and Greenock High School before attending the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. Before his election to Holyrood he worked as a chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
and ran his own business. He joined the SNP in 1996 and acted as the SNP’s National Treasurer from 2000.
He is credited with making the Economic Case for Scottish Independence, having taken the argument to the media, boardrooms and committee rooms across Scotland between 2001 and 2007.
He was the SNP candidate in the 2000 Ayr by-election
Ayr by-election, 2000
The Ayr by-election on March 16, 2000 was the first by-election for the Scottish Parliament that had been established the year previously. It was caused by the resignation of Ian Welsh who had been elected at the Scottish Parliamentary Election, 1999...
and was their candidate for Argyll and Bute at the 2003 where he came third. He was elected 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...
as a regional list member for the Highlands and Islands. In opposition he was the SNP's Shadow Enterprise and Economy Minister.
Mather contested Argyll and Bute again at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
and was successful, winning the seat from George Lyon of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
.
After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election
Scottish Parliament election, 2007
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999...
, Mather was appointed Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism
The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism is a Junior ministerial post in the Scottish Government. As a result, the minister does not attend the Scottish Cabinet...
and held that post for 4 years until the end of the 2011 parliament.
Jim Mather retired as an MSP at the 2011 election.
He is currently a visiting professor with the University of Strathclyde, a director of the Strathclyde Institute of Operations Management, chairman of Gael Ltd. and non-executive director with Bloxx Limited.
External links
- Jim Mather MSP Scottish Parliament webpage
- Jim Mather profile at argyll-snp.com
- Jim Mather MSP Scottish Government biography