Ian Blackford

Ian Blackford
MP
Member of Parliament
for Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Assumed office
8 May 2015
Preceded by Charles Kennedy
Majority 5,124 (12.3%)
Personal details
Born (1961-05-14) 14 May 1961
Edinburgh, Scotland
Political party Scottish National Party
Website Official website

Ian Blackford (born 14 May 1961) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ross, Skye and Lochaber since May 2015.[1]

Originally from Edinburgh, Blackford previously worked as an investment banker and has been involved with various business ventures since. A prominent SNP member, he was formerly the party's national treasurer.

Early life

Blackford was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh.[2]

Banking and business

Blackford worked as an analyst with NatWest Securities,[3] before moving to a managerial role. The company was bought by BT Alex. Brown, and Blackford became the managing director.[4] After further integration into Deutsche Bank AG in 1999, Blackford ran Deutsche Bank's equity operations in Scotland and the Netherlands.[5] Following 20 years in the financial industry, he left to do independent consultancy work, forming an investor relations company called First Seer in 2002.[6]

In 2005, Blackford joined the Dutch baking products company CSM as an investor relations manager.[7] He was appointed non-executive chairman of the Edinburgh-based telecommunications firm Commsworld in 2006,[8] having joined the board as a non-executive director in 2005.[6][9] He is a trustee at the Golden Charter Trust.[10] In 2013, he helped explain the business case for not closing a primary school in Milngavie when East Dunbartonshire Council had proposed closure.[11]

He is a prominent supporter of Hibernian football club.[12]

Skye

He was previously the chairman of the Glendale Trust, an organisation responsible for a community-owned estate on Skye, which made an approach to Highland Council to bring a historic pier under community control.[13] Under his chairmanship, support was secured for establishing a heritage centre in 2010.[14] He had also been a member of the FlySkye group, campaigning to bring commercial air services back to Skye.[15][16]

Politician

Blackford stood to be a member of parliament as a Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate in the Paisley 1997 by-election[17] but he was unsuccessful, with the contest having the lowest turn-out at a by-election in Scotland for 30 years.[18] He then stood for the Ayr seat in the 1997 general election but was not elected.[19]

Blackford had been treasurer of the SNP and during this time he began to be viewed as a critic of the leader, Alex Salmond.[20] Blackford was removed from the post in 2000, after he had tried to impose financial controls to tackle the party's overdraft.[21] However, the limits for expenditure which he set were not adhered to.[22] Blackford's reputedly hard line over financial matters had led to a breakdown of trust between the national executive and him.[23] The fallout between Blackford and Salmond had looked as if it might end up in legal action.[24]

Blackford has argued for better telecommunication infrastructure for rural area, noting that video-conferencing is one way of overcoming travel time and in the absence of air links.[25] Following the financial crisis of 2007–08 he has made calls for Scotland to have its own financial regulator, to protect society from irresponsible practices.[26][27] Blackford has also suggested that a zero rate of capital gains tax could help Scotland to attract investment.[28]

Following the independence referendum in September 2014, Blackford argued that Scotland should consider the constitutional change offered by the Westminster parties.[29] He was the author of a report which had explored options for the banking sector in Scotland, had the country chosen to become independent.[30]

In January 2015, it was announced that he would be the SNP candidate for Ross, Skye and Lochaber in the 2015 general election.[31] He received 20,119 votes and 48.1% of the vote and defeated the former Liberal Democrat party leader and incumbent Charles Kennedy by 5,124 votes.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/S14000055
  2. ↑ "Results of by-elections to the 52nd United Kingdom Parliament". election.demon.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (24 June 1997). "Reed Elsevier Is Purchasing Disney Unit for $447 Million". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Bain, Simon (19 September 1998). "Defectors launch rival firm". The Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bankers dismiss independence fears". The Courier. 13 September 2014. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Executive Profile: Ian Blackford". Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Human, Tim (10 January 2012). "iPad winner puts tablet to work". IR magazine. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Commsworld heads towards expansion after turnover rise". The Scotsman. 6 February 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Telecoms company's success is more than just talk". The Scotsman. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "About us". Golden Charter Trust. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Bearsden traders warn that schools closure could be catastrophic". Milngavie & Bearsden Herald. Johnston Press. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Brown, Anthony (13 June 2014). "Sir Tom Farmer brought Rod Petrie along to meeting with Petrie Out". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "Glendale Trust may take over Meanish Pier on Skye". BBC News. BBC. 15 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Trust aims to tell tale of crofters' victory in new heritage centre". The Scotsman. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  15. ↑ "Flights to and from Skye could start in 2014 group says". BBC News. BBC. 6 June 2013.
  16. ↑ MacKenzie, Keith (17 April 2015). "Skye air service campaigners to meet CAA". West Highland Free Press.
  17. ↑ "Special Report: Paisley by election. Low-key campaign in Paisley after Labour MP's suicide". BBC News. 4 November 1997.
  18. ↑ Goodwin, Stephen (8 November 1997). "Politics: Labour hides relief at Paisley result". The Independent.
  19. ↑ "Ian Blackford: Electoral history and profile". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. 21 January 2015.
  20. ↑ Ritchie, Murray (24 September 1999). "Tax and spend image attacked by treasurer". The Herald. Newsquest. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  21. ↑ Bell, Alex; Kemp, Arnold (18 June 2000). "Rivalry rocks the SNP". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  22. ↑ "Party exile attacks leadership". BBC News. 14 June 2000. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  23. ↑ Ritchie, Murray (13 June 2000). "Bitter feud puts SNP in turmoil Treasurer threatens to sue party leader for defamation unless Salmond apologises for remarks". The Herald. Newsquest. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  24. ↑ Seenan, Gerard (14 June 2000). "Ex-ally threatens to put SNP chief in dock". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  25. ↑ Fraser, Douglas (1 July 2012). "Taking flight to Skye". BBC News. BBC.
  26. ↑ "Ian Blackford: Could prompt government action have saved HBOS?". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  27. ↑ Davidson, Lorraine (8 July 2012). "Scotland 'needs own regulatory regime' to tackle reckless bankers". The Sunday Times. News UK. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  28. ↑ Allardyce, Jason (5 May 2013). "Abolish CGT, says former SNP treasurer". The Sunday Times. News UK. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  29. ↑ Peterkin, Tom (21 September 2014). "Former treasurer suggests SNP 'go for Home Rule'". Scotland on Sunday. Johnston Press. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  30. ↑ Wilson, Fraser (29 May 2014). "RBS should be broken up and Scottish arm nationalised in an independent Scotland, says pro-Yes group". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  31. ↑ Falconer, Lisa (20 January 2015). "Ian Blackford selected as SNP candidate for Ross, Skye and Lochaber". West Highland Free Press. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Kenny MacAskill		 Treasurer of the Scottish National Party
1999–2000 		Succeeded by
Jim Mather
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Charles Kennedy		 Member of Parliament
for Ross, Skye and Lochaber
2015–present 		Incumbent
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