Lewis Macdonald

Roderick Lewis Macdonald (born 1 January 1957) is a Scottish politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Scotland region since 2011. A member of the Scottish Labour Party, he previously represented the Aberdeen Central constituency from 1999 to 2011. He was a deputy Scottish Executive minister from March 2001 to May 2007.

Lewis Macdonald

Macdonald in 2018
Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Interim
Assumed office
1 April 2020
Presiding OfficerKen Macintosh
Convener of the Health and Sport Committee
Assumed office
19 December 2017
Preceded byNeil Findlay
Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Culture, Sport, Tourism and External Affairs
In office
25 May 2016  19 December 2017
LeaderKezia Dugdale
Alex Rowley (Acting)
Jackie Baillie (Acting)
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byClaire Baker
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for North East Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
Assumed office
6 May 2011
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Aberdeen Central
In office
6 May 1999  6 May 2011
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byKevin Stewart
Personal details
Born
Roderick Lewis Macdonald

(1957-01-01) 1 January 1957
Stornoway, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Political partyScottish Labour Party
Spouse(s)Sandra Macdonald
Children2 daughters
Alma materUniversity of Aberdeen

Early life and career

Born in Stornoway, Macdonald moved with his family to Aberdeenshire as a child, and attended Inverurie Academy and later the University of Aberdeen. Macdonald received an MA in history and a PhD in African studies and later lectured at the university. He is a member of the trade union Unite.[1]

Political career

Official parliamentary portrait, 2011

Prior to his election as an MSP, Macdonald worked as a parliamentary researcher to the MPs Frank Doran and Tom Clarke. After being elected in the 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Macdonald joined the Scottish Executive in March 2001. He was briefly Deputy Minister for Transport and Planning from March to November 2001. He then served as Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning, later renamed Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, from 2001 to 2004.[2] He served as Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development from 2004 to 2005 and Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care from 2005 to 2007.[3]

Between June 2013 and December 2014, Macdonald served as Scottish Labour Chief Whip. He has also led for Scottish Labour on enterprise and tourism, infrastructure, justice and energy.[4] He has served as convener of the Health and Sport Committee since December 2017.[5] He became interim Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament in April 2020, following the self isolation of Christine Grahame during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7]

Macdonald nominated Anas Sarwar in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[8]

Personal life

Macdonald is married to Sandra who has worked in the oil industry. Macdonald also has two children.[1] Sandra has been elected as a member on Aberdeen City Council.

References

  1. "Personal Information". www.parliament.scot. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  2. "Previous MSPs: Session 1 (1999-2003): Lewis Macdonald MSP". The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. "Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003-2007): Lewis Macdonald MSP". The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  4. "Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007-2011): Lewis Macdonald MSP". The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  5. "Current MSPs: Lewis Macdonald MSP". The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  6. Beaton, Ailean (1 April 2020). "Lewis Macdonald elected temporary Deputy Presiding Officer". Holyrood Website. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. Hall, Jamie (2 April 2020). "North-east MSP gains new role in Scottish Parliament". Evening Express. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. "Scottish Leadership Election 2021 - Nominations". Scottish Labour. Retrieved 26 January 2021.


Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
Constituency Created
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeen Central
19992011
Succeeded by
Kevin Stewart
Political offices
Preceded by
Rhona Brankin
Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care
20052007
Succeeded by
Shona Robison
as Minister for Public Health
Preceded by
Allan Wilson
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
20042005
Succeeded by
Rhona Brankin
Preceded by
Office Created
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
20032004
Succeeded by
Allan Wilson
Preceded by
Office Created
Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
20012003
Succeeded by
Alasdair Morrison
Preceded by
Office Created
Deputy Minister for Transport and Planning
2001
Succeeded by
Office Abolished


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