Malcolm Chisholm

Malcolm Chisholm
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Edinburgh Northern and Leith
Edinburgh North and Leith (1999-2011)
In office
6 May 1999 – 23 March 2016
Preceded by Constituency created
Succeeded by Ben Macpherson
Member of Parliament
for Edinburgh North and Leith
Edinburgh Leith (1992–1997)
In office
9 April 1992 – 14 May 2001
Preceded by Ron Brown
Succeeded by Mark Lazarowicz
Personal details
Born (1949-03-07) 7 March 1949
Political party Scottish Labour Party
Alma mater University of Edinburgh

Malcolm George Richardson Chisholm (born 7 March 1949) is a Scottish Labour Party politician, and a former Scottish Executive minister.

Career

Chisholm was Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh Leith from 1992, then Edinburgh North and Leith from 1997. He served as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland responsible for local government and transport minister for a few months in 1997 but resigned over lone parent benefit cuts. He remained an MP until 2001, when he stood down from the House of Commons in order to concentrate on the Scottish Parliament, to which he was elected in 1999 for the same constituency.

He became Minister for Health and Community Care in 2001, then Minister for Communities from October 2004. As Minister for Health and Community Care, Chisholm introduced and oversaw the passage of the National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Bill[1] which brought about the abolition of NHS Trusts in Scotland and the creation of Community Health Partnerships.[2]

As Minister for Communities, Chisholm oversaw investment in the building of affordable homes,[3][4] approved a proposal from Fife Council for a moratorium on council house sales in order to maintain the supply of affordable housing,[5] developed reforms of planning policy to protect green spaces,[6] and extended the Central Heating Programme and Warm Deal to provide and refurbish heating systems for pensioners.[7]

In December 2006 he criticised the decision to renew Trident, Britain's nuclear deterrent, in opposition to First Minister Jack McConnell, leading to speculation that he might be removed from office.[8] He subsequently resigned on 21 December 2006 after supporting a motion passed by the Scottish National Party that opposed the replacement of the nuclear submarines.[9]

On 17 September 2007 he was appointed Shadow Minister for Culture and External Affairs by new Scottish Labour Opposition Leader, Wendy Alexander. In September 2008 Chisholm returned to the backbenches.

References

  1. ↑ "Parliamentary Business : Scottish Parliament". Scottish.parliament.uk. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Chisholm launches NHS reform BBC
  3. ↑ Affordable housing drive outlined BBC
  4. ↑ Minister unveils homes investment BBC
  5. ↑ Council house purchase ban agreed BBC
  6. ↑ Shake-up to protect open spaces BBC
  7. ↑ Elderly offered heating upgrade BBC
  8. ↑ Martin, Lorna (10 December 2006). "Chisholm could lose cabinet post". The Observer. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Minister quits after Trident vote". BBC News. 23 December 2006.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ron Brown		 Member of Parliament for Edinburgh Leith
1992–1997 		Succeeded by
(constituency abolished)
Preceded by
(new constituency)		 Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North and Leith
1997–2001 		Succeeded by
Mark Lazarowicz
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
Constituency Created		 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh North and Leith
1999–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Margaret Curran		 Minister for Communities
2004–2006 		Succeeded by
Rhona Brankin
Preceded by
Susan Deacon		 Minister for Health and Community Care
2001-2004 		Succeeded by
Andy Kerr
Preceded by
Iain Gray		 Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care
2000-2001 		Succeeded by
Hugh Henry
and Mary Mulligan
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.