Dennis Canavan

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Dennis Canavan (born 8 August 1942, Cowdenbeath) is a Scottish politician, and an independent member of the Scottish Parliament for Falkirk West.

He was educated at St. Bride's and St. Columba's Schools, Cowdenbeath, and at the University of Edinburgh. He was a schoolteacher from 1970 until 1974.

He was leader, Labour Group, Stirling District Council in 1974. He was Labour member of the Westminster Parliament for West Stirlingshire, October 1974 - 1983 and for Falkirk West, 1983 - 2000. He was Chair of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group, 1980 - 1981.

In 1999, when elections for the first devolved Parliament were held, he was rejected as an official Labour candidate, and instead stood as an independent, and won. He had the highest majority of any MSP in the 1999 election. He was consequently expelled from the party. He resigned his Westminster seat in 2000. The by-election was won by Eric Joyce. He retained his Holyrood seat in 2003.

In the Scottish Parliament, he has been a member of the European and External Relations Committee and convener of the All-Party Sports Group since 1999.

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