David McLetchie

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David McLetchie MSP
David McLetchie
Scottish Conservative Leader
Succeeded by Annabel Goldie
Constituency Edinburgh Pentlands
Born August 6, 1952 (1952-08-06) (age 55)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Political party Scottish Conservative Party

David McLetchie (born 6 August 1952, Edinburgh) is a Scottish politician, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency. Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party between 1999 and 2005, he resigned following a scandal over his expense claims.

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[edit] Background

He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Law in 1974, having attended Leith Academy and George Heriot's School. McLetchie trained as a solicitor with Shepherd + Wedderburn, before joining Tods Murray where he was assumed a partner. He specialised in tax, trusts, and estate planning.

In 1979 he contested the Edinburgh Central seat for the Scottish Conservatives, but lost to Robin Cook.

[edit] Member of the Scottish Parliament

[edit] Leader of the Scottish Conservatives

Since 1999, he has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament. He was also Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party from 1999 until 2005. Initially he was elected as an additional member for the Lothians, but at the 2003 election he won the first past the post seat of Edinburgh Pentlands.

[edit] Resignation

David McLetchie announced his resignation as Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party leader on 31 October 2005, after it was revealed he had spent £11,500 of Scottish taxpayers' money on taxi fares, more than any other MSP. The problem was not so much the large bill, but the fact that he had used taxis for Conservative and Unionist party business (as opposed to constituency business).

His successor as leader was Annabel Goldie.

[edit] Backbencher

He has gone on to become a respected and prominent back bencher in the Parliament, major successes included his campaigns on free personal care and road pricing.

[edit] External links



Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
Iain Gray		 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Pentlands
2003 – present		 Incumbent


v • d • e
Members of the Scottish Parliament in the Lothians region Flag of Scotland

Elected in the 2007 election

Labour (5 seats), SNP (5 seats), Conservative (2 seats), Lib Dems, (2 seats), Greens (1 seat), Independent (1 seat)

Constituency MSPs
Sarah Boyack (Lab, Edinburgh Central) • Kenny MacAskill (SNP, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) • Malcolm Chisholm (Lab, Edinburgh North and Leith) • David McLetchie (Con, Edinburgh Pentlands) • Mike Pringle (Lib Dem, Edinburgh South) • Margaret Smith (Lib Dem, Edinburgh West) • Mary Mulligan (Lab, Linlithgow) • Angela Constance (SNP, Livingston) • Rhona Brankin (Lab, Midlothian)

Additional Members
Gavin Brown (Con) • George Foulkes (Lab) • Robin Harper (Green) • Fiona Hyslop (SNP) • Margo MacDonald (Ind) • Ian McKee (SNP) • Shirley-Anne Somerville (SNP)
v • d • e
Scottish Conservative Party MSPs
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