Robin Harper | |
|---|---|
 Harper in 2008 | |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament forLothians (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) | |
| In office 6 May 1999 – 22 March 2011 | |
| Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen | |
| In office July 2005 – July 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Clarissa Dickson Wright |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Robertson |
| Lord Rector of the University of Edinburgh | |
| In office March 2000 – March 2003 | |
| Preceded by | John Colquhoun |
| Succeeded by | Tam Dalyell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robin Charles Moreton Harper (1940-08-04)4 August 1940 (age 85) |
| Party | Labour (2024–present)[1] |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2023–2024)[2] Scottish Greens (1985–2023) |
| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
| Profession | Teacher |
| Website | robinharper.wordpress.com |
Robin Charles Moreton Harper,FRSSA (born 4 August 1940) is a Scottish politician, who was aMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for theLothians region (1999–2011).
He was co-convener of theScottish Greens (2004–2008).
Harper became an MSP in the first elections to theScottish Parliament in1999, the first ever electedGreen parliamentarian in the United Kingdom.
Harper was born inThurso,Caithness. He was educated atSt Marylebone Grammar School andElgin Academy, Moray. He graduated from theUniversity of Aberdeen in 1962. He worked as an English teacher inKenya, then aModern Studies teacher atBoroughmuir High School,Edinburgh.[3]
Harper was a member of LothianChildren's Panel 1985–1988 and Lothian Health Council 1993–1998.[4]
Harper joined theEcology Party's Scottish branch in 1985. At the time the branch had only 35 members and its AGM that year was held in his flat. He was elected unopposed as its convenor and secretary and remained a leading figure as it became first theUK-wide Green Party then the independent Scottish Greens.[5]
He stood, unsuccessfully, as a Green candidate in the1995 Perth and Kinross by-election, and forEdinburgh Pentlands in the1997 United Kingdom general election, finishing seventh and sixth respectively.[6][7]
Harper stood for election at the first everScottish Parliament election in 1999, and was elected as anadditional member for theLothians region, becoming the first ever elected Green Party parliamentarian inBritish political history. In an emotional speech, he promised to be a critical voice on the environment in the newly created devolved Parliament.[8] He criticised theScottish Executive's decision to split ministerial responsibility for the environment in 2001.[9] He served as his party's sole representative in the first Parliament (1999–2003) until the2003 election,[10] when the Scottish Green Party won another 6 seats in the regional lists.[11][12] Harper was sworn in by giving the formal affirmation, also adding: "On behalf of the Scottish Green Party I wish to affirm that our priority will be to serve the people of Scotland who are sovereign in this land."[13] He was the party's spokesman on education and young people.[14] In 2004, he was a member of the Scottish Parliament team in the TV general knowledge showUniversity Challenge: The Professionals. He and fellow team membersRichard Baker (Labour),Stewart Stevenson (SNP) andJamie Stone (Lib Dem) who was captain, beat aWelsh Assembly team by 110 points to 75.[15]
In January 2007,The Scotsman reported that Harper was being considered for the nextPresiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament. Harper stated that he did not know of this story, but said "it would be an honour even to be considered".[16] Following the 2007 elections to theScottish Parliament, Harper was returned as a list MSP for theLothians,[17] this time one of only two Green Party members elected.[18] After an agreement with theScottish National Party, the party with the largest mandate from the election, the Green MSPs including Harper voted forAlex Salmond to becomeFirst Minister of Scotland but the Greens declined to enter a formal coalition with the Scottish National Party. As part of the deal, fellow Green MSPPatrick Harvie was nominated to head theHolyrood Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee.[19] In 2009, Harper and Harvie voted to reject an SNP government budget.[20] He did not seek re-election in2011.[21]
Dear Mr. Harper, Harper's autobiography written with journalistFred Bridgland, was published in 2011.[22]
In September 2014, Harper became chairman of theScottish Wildlife Trust.[23] He remained in that role for three years.[24]
At the beginning of December 2013, Harper announced that he would "absolutely vote no" in the2014 referendum on Scottish independence, going on to say that he would be happy to help theBetter Together campaign and that there was a "significant minority" ofGreens who were opposed to independence.[25]
In August 2021, Harper criticised theBute House Agreement that the Greens had struck withNicola Sturgeon's government, claiming that his party had failed to take tougher action on North Sea oil, marine protection and taxation.[26]
In September 2022, he joined the board ofGordon Brown's unionist think tank, Our Scottish Future.[27]
In August 2023, he announced that he had resigned from the Scottish Green Party, citing differences of opinion on independence, concerns over what he described as the party's move to the left and their position on trans rights.[28] Harper also stated his intention to vote Labour at the next election.[29][30]
In June 2024, he joined theLabour Party citing their plan for combatting climate change and their ability to beat theConservatives in the2024 United Kingdom general election.[1]
Harper, who is married with one stepson, has been a patron of many organisations includingLGBT Youth Scotland, an organisation dedicated to the inclusion and advancement of the rights oflesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people in Scotland. He was an Honorary Vice-President ofEnglish-Speaking Union Scotland. He served asRector of the University of Edinburgh 2000–2003.[31] Harper was an Honorary President of the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group.[32] He was elected asRector of the University of Aberdeen in 2005.
He was President of theRoyal Scottish Society of Arts 2008–2011.[33]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | Principal Speaker of theScottish Greens 1998–2004 With: Marian Coyne (1999) Eleanor Scott (2000) | position abolished |
| New post | Convenor of the Scottish Greens 1999–2002 | Succeeded by |
| New post | Co-Convenor of the Scottish Greens 2004–2008 With:Shiona Baird 2004–2007 Alison Johnstone 2007–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | Rector of the University of Edinburgh 2000–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Rector of the University of Aberdeen 2005–2008 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
