Linda Fabiani

Linda Fabiani (born 14 December 1956) HonFRIAS OSSI FCIH is a Scottish politician who has served as a Deputy Presiding Officer in the Scottish Parliament since 2016. A member of the Scottish National Party, she is the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the East Kilbride constituency. She was previously a regional member of the Scottish Parliament for the Central Scotland region from 1999 until 2007.

Linda Fabiani

HonFRIAS OSSI FCIH MSP
Fabiani in 2019
Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Assumed office
12 May 2016
Presiding OfficerKen Macintosh
Preceded byElaine Smith
Convener of the Scottish Parliament Scotland Bill Committee
In office
21 June 2011 – 23 March 2016
Preceded byWendy Alexander
Minister for Europe, External Affairs, Culture and Gaelic
In office
17 May 2007 – 12 February 2009
First MinisterAlex Salmond
Preceded byPatricia Ferguson
(Minister for Gaelic)
Succeeded byMichael Russell
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for East Kilbride
Assumed office
5 May 2011
Preceded byAndy Kerr
Majority10,979 (31.7%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Central Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office
6 May 1999 – 5 May 2011
Personal details
Born (1956-12-14) 14 December 1956
NationalityScottish
Political partyScottish National Party
Spouse(s)Duncan McLean
ResidenceStrathaven, Scotland

Biography

Fabiani was born in Glasgow to a family with both Scottish and Italian roots.

At 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections, Fabiani unsuccessfully contested the First past the post constituency of East Kilbride finishing as runner up to Andy Kerr of Labour, reducing Labour's majority from 6,499 in 1999 to 1,972 in 2007.

Following the election of 2003, she served as the SNP's Deputy Spokesman on Communities inside the Scottish Parliament and chaired the Parliament's European and External Relations Committee.

In 2007, Fabiani was made Knight of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity by Italy in recognition of her work promoting links between Scotland and Italy.[1]

With the SNP taking control of the Scottish Government after the 2007 election,[2] Fabiani was appointed Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture. Half way through the SNP's term, she was replaced as minister by Mike Russell.

In 2009, she was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland. She is a former Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing of Scotland.[3]

In May 2011, in the first SNP gain of the election, Fabiani took the East Kilbride constituency from Andy Kerr. With Kerr widely touted as a potential successor to Labour leader Iain Gray, this was one of the major SNP victories of the election.[4] On 21 June 2011 she became the Convener of the Scotland Bill committee.[5]

After her election, she set up a constituency office in 1/3 Strathmore House in the town centre of East Kilbride.

After being re-elected in the 2016 election, Fabiani was elected as one of the two Deputy Presiding Officers of the Scottish Parliament.

In August 2020, Fabiani announced that she would not be seeking re-election in the next election to the Scottish Parliament, due to take place in 2021.

References
  1. "MSP recognised for Italian links". BBC News. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  2. Wintour, Patrick; editor, political (4 May 2007). "SNP wins historic victory" – via The Guardian.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. "Linda Fabiani – personal information". The Scottish Parliament. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  4. Ponsonby, Brian (6 May 2011). "Scottish Election: Labour crashes in Scottish heartland". BBC News. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  5. "Previous MSPs: Session 4 (11 May 2011–23 March 2016): Fabiani, Linda". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
Political offices
Preceded by
New post		 Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
2007–2009		 Succeeded by
Mike Russell
(as Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution)
Preceded by
Patricia Ferguson		 Minister for Gaelic
2007–2009		 Succeeded by
Mike Russell
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