Lloyd Quinan
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Quinan is a former member of the Scottish Parliament
. Born and brought up in Edinburgh
he joined the Scottish National Party
(SNP) in 1974. A trained actor, he was a member of the Equity Union
, before pursuing a media career as a weatherman and freelance broadcaster. He was involved in the National Union of Journalists
during this period.
In the early 90's, Quinan worked as a weatherman for Scottish Television
. Lloyd quit the station over a pay row in 1997.
In 1999 he was elected to represent the West of Scotland as an SNP candidate at the first Scottish Parliament election. During his time as an MSP he became known as a critic of the SNP leadership, first under Alex Salmond
and then John Swinney
.
A naturally inclined left-winger, he supported Alex Neil's bid for leadership in 2000, acting as a campaign manager for Neil. At the 2003 Parliament election he decided to stand down from being a candidate in the West of Scotland, and sought nomination in his home city of Edinburgh. Failure to do so meant that he unsuccessfully contested the election as SNP candidate for Motherwell and Wishaw
against the Labour candidate, First Minister
Jack McConnell
.
In the aftermath of the SNP's election defeat in 2003 the SNP became embroiled in an internal struggle, culminating in the challenge to Swinney's leadership by grassroots SNP activist Dr. Bill Wilson. The media connected Quinan to Wilson's campaign, but this was something he denied.
Lloyd is a political ally of Jim Sillars
and Margo MacDonald
and he shares Sillars current antipathy towards the EU.
Quinan eventually announced his decision to resign from the SNP and join the Scottish Socialist Party
(SSP) instead. He attempted to be placed on the SSP list of nominated candidates for the 2004 European Parliament election
but he did not manage this.
Lloyd is a strong supporter of the Basque
and Palestine
independence movements. Since joining the SSP he has strengthened links between the party and socialist independence supporters in the Basque country. Quinan believes that the Basques are a strong organisational mode to follow for the independence movement in Scotland.
He is also a supporter of Independence First
, the campaign for a referendum on independence for Scotland.
A life-long Hibernian F.C.
supporter, he was a leading organiser in the 'Hands off Hibs' campaign.
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...
. Born and brought up in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
he joined the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP) in 1974. A trained actor, he was a member of the Equity Union
British Actors' Equity Association
Equity is the trade union for actors, stage managers and models in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1930 by a group of West End performers....
, before pursuing a media career as a weatherman and freelance broadcaster. He was involved in the National Union of Journalists
National Union of Journalists
The National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
during this period.
In the early 90's, Quinan worked as a weatherman for Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
. Lloyd quit the station over a pay row in 1997.
In 1999 he was elected to represent the West of Scotland as an SNP candidate at the first Scottish Parliament election. During his time as an MSP he became known as a critic of the SNP leadership, first under Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
and then John Swinney
John Swinney
John Ramsey Swinney is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Perthshire North, having previously represented North Tayside...
.
A naturally inclined left-winger, he supported Alex Neil's bid for leadership in 2000, acting as a campaign manager for Neil. At the 2003 Parliament election he decided to stand down from being a candidate in the West of Scotland, and sought nomination in his home city of Edinburgh. Failure to do so meant that he unsuccessfully contested the election as SNP candidate for Motherwell and Wishaw
Wishaw
Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....
against the Labour candidate, First Minister
First Minister of Scotland
The First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy...
Jack McConnell
Jack McConnell
Jack Wilson McConnell, Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale is a British Labour life peer in the House of Lords. He was third First Minister of Scotland from 2001 to 2007, making him the longest serving First Minister in the history of the Scottish Parliament...
.
In the aftermath of the SNP's election defeat in 2003 the SNP became embroiled in an internal struggle, culminating in the challenge to Swinney's leadership by grassroots SNP activist Dr. Bill Wilson. The media connected Quinan to Wilson's campaign, but this was something he denied.
Lloyd is a political ally of Jim Sillars
Jim Sillars
Jim Sillars is a Scottish politician. He is married to current member of the Scottish Parliament, Margo MacDonald.-Early life:...
and Margo MacDonald
Margo MacDonald
Margo MacDonald MSP is a Scottish politician and former Scottish National Party MP and Deputy Leader...
and he shares Sillars current antipathy towards the EU.
Quinan eventually announced his decision to resign from the SNP and join the Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
(SSP) instead. He attempted to be placed on the SSP list of nominated candidates for the 2004 European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2004 (UK)
The European Parliament election, 2004 was the UK part of the European Parliament election, 2004. It was held on 10 June. It was the first European election to be held in the United Kingdom using postal-only voting in four areas. It coincided with local and London elections.The Conservative Party...
but he did not manage this.
Lloyd is a strong supporter of the Basque
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
and Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
independence movements. Since joining the SSP he has strengthened links between the party and socialist independence supporters in the Basque country. Quinan believes that the Basques are a strong organisational mode to follow for the independence movement in Scotland.
He is also a supporter of Independence First
Independence First
Independence First or Independence 1st is a political movement in Scotland, first proposed through internet discussions in September 2004, then formally constituted on 19 February 2005...
, the campaign for a referendum on independence for Scotland.
A life-long Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
supporter, he was a leading organiser in the 'Hands off Hibs' campaign.