Murdo Fraser | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Deputy Convener of thePublic Audit Committee | |
| In office 20 June 2007 – 6 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Welsh |
| Succeeded by | Alison Harris |
| Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party | |
| In office 31 October 2005 – 10 November 2011 | |
| Leader | Annabel Goldie Ruth Davidson |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Jackson Carlaw |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament forMid Scotland and Fife (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) | |
| Assumed office 10 August 2001 | |
| Scottish Conservative Shadow portfolios | |
| Leader | Ruth Davidson Jackson Carlaw Douglas Ross Russell Findlay |
| 2023–present | Cabinet Secretary for Business, Economic Growth and Tourism |
| 2021–2023 | Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery |
| 2016–Feb 2020; Aug 2020–2021 | Cabinet Secretary for Finance |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Murdo MacKenzie Fraser (1965-09-05)5 September 1965 (age 60) |
| Political party | Scottish Conservatives |
| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
| Website | Official Website |
Murdo MacKenzie Fraser (born 5 September 1965) is a Scottish politician who served asDeputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2005 to 2011. He has been aMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for theMid Scotland and Fife region since 2001. As of 2024, he serves asShadow Cabinet Secretary for Business, Economic Growth and Tourism, shadowingDeputy First MinisterKate Forbes.
Born in 1965, Fraser was educated atInverness Royal Academy. He studied law at theUniversity of Aberdeen, and was chairman of theScottish Young Conservatives from 1989 to 1992. During this time, a plaque marking a TV lounge that had been named to honourNelson Mandela, was "appropriated" as a prank to annoy left-wing students. In 2016, Fraser said he returned the plaque to students, although Aberdeen University Student Association disputes the claim.[1]
After undertaking a postgraduateDiploma in Legal Studies, he worked as asolicitor in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, latterly as an associate with Ketchen and Stevens WS in Edinburgh, specialising incommercial law.
At the1999 Scottish Parliament election, Fraser was an unsuccessful candidate forNorth Tayside, as he was in2003 and2007. He stood unsuccessfully for theHouse of Commons at the1997 general election inEast Lothian and at the2001 general election inNorth Tayside.
Fraser became an MSP in 2001, after the resignation ofNick Johnston, as next name on the Conservative Party'sMid Scotland and Fife list. He gained a list seat in2003,2007, 2011, 2016 and 2021, having lost to John Swinney on each occasion in the constituency vote. Previously the convenor of the Economy, Energy, and Tourism Committee, Fraser is a member of the Finance Committee of the Scottish Parliament.[2]
He became deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives in November 2005 whenAnnabel Goldie became leader. After the2011 election, at which 15 Conservative MSPs were elected,Annabel Goldie triggered a leadership election by announcing that she would stand down in Autumn 2011.
In June 2014, Fraser spoke in favour of reconstituting the United Kingdom on a federal basis.[3]
After being elected through the party list in 2011, he announced in August his decision to seek theleadership of the Scottish Conservative Party,[4] and launched his campaign on 4 September in Edinburgh. His launch plans included a commitment to further devolution to the Scottish Parliament from Westminster, as well as launching a new party to redefine the politics of Scotland, harnessing the support of the centre-right, but independent of the UK Conservative Party and with a new name and identity.[5] Fraser was unsuccessful in his attempt to be elected party leader, losing out toRuth Davidson,[6] and following the election was succeeded as deputy leader byJackson Carlaw.[7]
Fraser announced his candidacy on 7 August. Fraser said that the UK-wide Conservative Party could stand candidates in Westminster elections but a new sister party could stand in Holyrood elections, citing the party system in Canada, with a commission established that would report after thenext Scottish Parliament election.[8][9] He said recent UK Conservative leaders andDouglas Ross had "let down" members.[10] On 14 August, MSPStephen Kerr accidentally published doubts about Murdo Fraser's campaign as a status update onWhatsApp, calling it "awful". Kerr had endorsed Fraser, but published that he was "beginning to wish" he had nominated Gallacher. Kerr said the comments were out of context, and reiterated his support for Fraser.[11][12]
On 22 August, Fraser launched his campaign to becomeScottish Conservative Party Leader at an event inPerth with two former rival candidates, Jamie Greene and Brian Whittle.[13] He said that the remaining candidates,Russell Findlay andMeghan Gallacher should withdraw from the election and support him.[14] He said he would appeal to conservative nationalists disillusioned by the SNP by offering "practical solutions".[15]