Douglas Chapman (Scottish politician)

Douglas Chapman (born 5 January 1955) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dunfermline and West Fife since the 2015 general election.[2] He is the SNP's Small Business, Enterprise and Innovation spokesperson.[3]

For other people named Douglas Chapman, see Douglas Chapman (disambiguation).

Douglas Chapman

MP
Chapman in 2019
Member of Parliament
for Dunfermline and West Fife
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byThomas Docherty
Majority10,669 (20.0%)
Personal details
Born (1955-01-05) 5 January 1955[1]
Edinburgh, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Alma materEdinburgh Napier University

Early life

Chapman was born in Edinburgh and grew up in Livingston and West Calder. He attended West Calder High School and has lived in the Dunfermline area since 1990, serving as a councillor for Rosyth and North Queensferry ward on Fife Council for nine years before becoming an MP.[4]

Political career

At the 2010 general election Chapman contested the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat, but was defeated by the Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown by over 23,000 votes. Five years later in Dunfermline and West Fife, however, he took 50.3% of the overall vote with a 39.6% swing from his Labour predecessor Thomas Docherty. It was his third attempt to take the seat, having been defeated in 2005 and in a by-election in 2006. He retained his seat at the 2017 general election with a 35.5% share of the vote but a much reduced majority of only 844.[5]

In the 2019 general election, Chapman held his seat, securing 23,727 votes. His nearest rival was Labour candidate Cara Hilton (who nearly defeated Chapman in 2017), who secured 13,028 votes.[6]

In the 2020 SNP internal elections, Chapman was elected as SNP National Treasurer replacing Colin Beattie who had served for 16 years.

Personal life

He is married with two children, and supports Hibernian FC.[7]

References
  1. "Members' Names Data Platform query". UK Parliament. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  2. "Dunfermline & West Fife Parliamentary constituency". Election 2015 Results. BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. "Douglas Chapman MP, Dunfermline and West Fife". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. Commons, House of. "House of Commons - The Register of Members' Financial Interests (6th June 2016: Chapman, Douglas )". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  5. "Dunfermline & West Fife Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. "Dunfermline & West Fife Parliamentary constituency 2019 voting". BBC.
  7. Grant Costello, Josh Bircham (2015). We Are The 56. Glasgow: Freight. pp. 195–198. ISBN 978-1-910449-51-6.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Thomas Docherty		 Member of Parliament
for Dunfermline and West Fife
2015–present		 Incumbent
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