Jim Mather

Jim Mather
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll and Bute
In office 3 May 2007 – 5 May 2011
Preceded by	George Lyon
Succeeded by	Mike Russell
Majority	815 (2.8%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands
In office 1 May 2003 – 7 May 2007
Personal details
Born	(1947-03-06) 6 March 1947 Lochwinnoch
Nationality	Scottish
Political party	Scottish National Party
Alma mater	University of Glasgow
Profession	Accountant

Jim Mather (born 6 March 1947, Lochwinnoch) is a Scottish politician, former Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and until the 2011 election, the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll and Bute.

Mather was educated at Paisley Grammar School and Greenock High School before attending the University of Glasgow. Before his election to Holyrood he worked as a chartered accountant and ran his own business. He joined the SNP in 1996 and acted as the SNP’s National Treasurer from 2000.

He is credited with making the economic case for Scottish Independence, having taken the argument to the media, boardrooms and committee rooms across Scotland between 2001 and 2007.

He was the SNP candidate in the 2000 Ayr by-election and was their candidate for Argyll and Bute at the 2003 where he came third. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament as a regional list member for the Highlands and Islands. In opposition he was the SNP's Shadow Enterprise and Economy Minister.

Mather contested Argyll and Bute again at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election and was successful, winning the seat from George Lyon of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, Mather was appointed Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and held that post for 4 years until the end of the 2011 parliament.

Jim Mather retired as an MSP at the 2011 election.^[1]

He is currently a visiting professor with the University of Strathclyde, a director of the Strathclyde Institute of Operations Management, chairman of Gael Ltd. and non-executive director with Bloxx Limited.

References

External links

• Jim Mather former MSP Scottish Parliament webpage