Joe FitzPatrick | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2023 | |
Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning | |
In office 29 March 2023 –8 May 2024 | |
First Minister | Humza Yousaf |
Preceded by | Ben Macpherson |
Succeeded by | Shona Robison [lower-alpha 1] |
Minister for Public Health,Sport and Wellbeing | |
In office 26 June 2018 –18 December 2020 | |
First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
Preceded by | Aileen Campbell |
Succeeded by | Mairi Gougeon |
Minister for Parliamentary Business | |
In office 5 September 2012 –26 June 2018 | |
First Minister | Alex Salmond Nicola Sturgeon |
Preceded by | Brian Adam |
Succeeded by | Graeme Dey |
Member of Parliament for Dundee City West Dundee West (2007–2011) | |
Assumed office 3 May 2007 | |
Preceded by | Kate Maclean |
Majority | 12,919 |
Personal details | |
Born | Dundee,Scotland | 1 April 1967
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Alma mater | Abertay University |
Website | www |
Joseph Martin FitzPatrick (born 1 April 1967) is a Scottish politician who most recently served as Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning from March 2023 to May 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP),he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Dundee City West since the 2007. Prior to his most recent Ministerial appointment,he was Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Equalities,Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. [1] He served as Minister for Public Health,Sport and Wellbeing from 2018 to until his resignation in 2020. [2] [3] [4] He also served as Minister for Parliamentary Business from 2012 to 2018.
Joseph Martin FitzPatrick was born on 1 April 1967 in Dundee,Scotland. He attended Whitfield Primary School and Whitfield High School. He studied Forestry at Inverness College and worked for the Forestry Commission in Angus and Tillhill Forestry in ArgyIl.
He was elected President of Inverness College Students Association and was re-elected as the College's first Sabbatical President. He was elected to the National Executive of NUS in 1990 and was given specific responsibility for LGBT issues. He was later elected as the Area Convenor for the National Union of Students from 1991-1992.
Before his election to the Scottish Parliament,FitzPatrick worked for Dundee SNP parliamentarians Shona Robison MSP and Stewart Hosie MP and was also a Dundee City Council member,SNP group whip and finance spokesperson.
After being elected MSP for Dundee West,he was elected as the SNP Group Secretary in the Parliament and was a member of the Finance Committee and SNP substitute on the Health Committee. He was also the Parliamentary Liaison Officer to John Swinney MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth).
In 2007,FitzPatrick was elected to the SNP's National Executive Committee. In 2009 he co-ordinated the SNP's successful European Election Campaign. [5]
In 2011,FitzPatrick was re-elected to the slightly enlarged Dundee City west seat with an increased majority and 57.6% of the vote. FitzPatrick went on to be appointed Convener of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee. He was Co-convener of the Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and Convener of the Cross Party Group on Computer Games Technology.
In 2012,FitzPatrick introduced a Members' Bill to tackle parking on pavements,double parking and parking alongside kerbs which have been lowered for wheelchair users. FitzPatrick stated:"It is clear that the current situation,with complicated police enforcement,isn’t working. We need Scottish legislation that enables local authorities to take action against inconsiderate parking." FitzPatrick stated that the Bill aimed to help pedestrians. [6]
FitzPatrick was appointed Minister for Parliamentary Business in September 2012. [7] He introduced the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill in 2015. [8] The legislation allowed British,Commonwealth or EU Citizens over the age of 16 to vote in Scottish Parliament and local council elections. [9]
Those aged over 16 were first allowed to vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. 3.6 million people voted in the referendum. Over 100,000 were aged 16 to 17. [10]
In a debate on 'Young Voters' in the Scottish Parliament on February 19,2015,FitzPatrick stated:"...the referendum was a remarkable demonstration of democracy at its best,and it is right that the chamber both recognises and celebrates the impact that young people have had on politics and the opportunity that the extension of the franchise presents to our democracy." [11]
FitzPatrick introduced The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. The Act became law in April 2016 and sought to "increase public transparency about lobbying." [12] On commending the Bill to Parliament,FitzPatrick stated:"The collaborative relationship between the Government,the Parliament and our stakeholders throughout the bill’s development is yet another example that supports the proud reputation of this Parliament and the Government for open engagement with civic Scotland." [13]
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election FitzPatrick increased his majority once more,winning 54.2% of the vote. [14] FitzPatrick was one of ten openly LGBT MSPs.
In June 2018,FitzPatrick was appointed Minister for Public Health,Sport and Wellbeing.
FitzPatrick introduced The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill to Parliament on 8 June 2018. It was passed by Parliament in June 2019. Having completed all the parliamentary stages,the bill received Royal Assent and came into force in autumn 2020. The legislation introduced an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation for deceased donors. FitzPatrick stated:"Organ and tissue donation can be a life-changing gift. Evidence shows that opt-out systems can make a difference as part of a wider package of measures and this Act provides further opportunities to both save and improve lives." [15]
In December 2020,FitzPatrick welcomed a review which made it easier for gay and bisexual men to donate blood in Scotland. FitzPatrick stated:"I welcome the recommendations... which will enable a more individualised risk assessment approach to blood donor safety checks while continuing to ensure the safe supply of blood to patients. We are committed to equality and inclusion,and these changes will ensure a fairer and more up to date assessment of risk is applied to both men and women to identify whether donors may be at risk of a blood-borne virus infection." [16]
In December 2020,figures were released revealing that 1,264 people in Scotland had died from drug overdoses in 2019 –the highest number in Europe and three and a half times the rate in England and Wales. [17] Activist Darren McGarvey claimed FitzPatrick as Public Health Minister was "incapable of leading us anywhere but the mortuary" [18] and opposition parties tabled a motion of no confidence in him in Holyrood. [19] Two days before FitzPatrick left office as Public Health Minister he was challenged to attend an unsanctioned mobile drug consumption facility which was parked outside Holyrood by activist Peter Krykant. FitzPatrick supported calls for a supervised overdose prevention facility pilot in Scotland. The law to facilitate this remains reserved to the UK Government. [20] FitzPatrick stated:"It’s clear the Misuse of Drugs Act is no longer fit for purpose. To enable innovations,such as a safer drug consumption facility,the law needs to change. We hope the UK Government will listen to the call from Scotland to make the necessary changes in the law to allow this to happen." [21] First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament that the figures were "indefensible". FitzPatrick resigned,commenting that it had been the “privilege of my life to serve in the Scottish Government”but that the "most heart-breaking and difficult problems" he faced as public health minister were the harms and deaths caused by drug use. [22] [23]
In June 2022,FitzPatrick met with Krykant and charity Cranstoun in the Scottish Parliament to discuss proposals for an overdose prevention centre (OPC) in Dundee. FitzPatrick backed the calls and signed Cranstoun's pledge. [24]
In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election FitzPatrick increased his majority to almost 13,000 votes over Scottish Labour. [25] He was appointed Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Equalities,Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.
In 2022,FitzPatrick led a Members' Debate in the Scottish Parliament condemning the findings of an investigation,undertaken by The Courier and Press &Journal,which found that 60% of female respondents had experienced sexism in football. [26] [27] [28] FitzPatrick stated to Parliament:"I truly believe that by working together we can tackle sexism and misogyny in football and in wider society. We all know the benefits of playing sport—it improves physical and mental health,tackles isolation and loneliness and boosts self-esteem. Those benefits should be available to everyone,regardless of gender,race or ability." [29]
At First Minister's Questions on 12 May 2022,FitzPatrick condemned reports of sexist,racist and homophobic comments at the Scottish Football Writers’Association gala dinner. Nicola Sturgeon in response stated:"I very much agree with those sentiments. From what I have read about what occurred at that particular awards dinner,it was unacceptable. I pay tribute to Eilidh Barbour and others,who courageously took a stand against it and spoke out. It is never easy for any woman to speak out in that way,particularly in what is traditionally a man’s world,and Eilidh Barbour and her colleagues deserve credit for doing so." [30] The Scottish Football Writers’Association apologised after a speaker’s sexist and misogynistic jokes prompted attendees to walk out of its annual awards dinner. [31]
FitzPatrick was appointed Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning in March 2023 by First Minister Humza Yousaf. [32] In May 2024,FitzPatrick stood down from Government as John Swinney was elected First Minister. FitzPatrick stated:"I supported your candidacy and I look forward to your leadership of the SNP and to you delivering your policy programme as FM. However,I believe that this would be a good opportunity for me to step down from my role as Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning. It has been an honour to serve in the last government and I am proud of working with COSLA and Scotland's 32 local authorities during that time,particularly to deliver a council tax freeze to support people through the current Westminster made cost living crisis. I know it's progressive policies like this that can make a difference to people and you will continue to take forward as First Minister and I commend your focus on child poverty. I will support you in your endeavours but feel it would be best to do so out of government." [33]
The Scottish Greens are a green political party in Scotland. The party has seven MSPs in the Scottish Parliament as of May 2021. As of the 2022 local elections, the party sits on 13 of the 32 Scottish local councils, with a total of 36 councillors. They held two ministerial posts in the first Yousaf government following a power-sharing agreement with the SNP from August 2021 until the end of the Bute House Agreement in April 2024, marking the first time Green Party politicians formed part of a government in the UK.
Iain Smith is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Fife constituency from 1999 until his defeat at 2011 election by the SNP's Rod Campbell.
James Alexander Stewart Stevenson is a Scottish former politician who served as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change from 2007 to 2010 and Minister for Environment and Climate Change from 2011 to 2012. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he was Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, formerly Banff and Buchan, from 2001 to 2021.
Robert Hardie Bruce Crawford is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who served as Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business and Government Strategy from 2011 to 2012, having held the junior ministerial position of Minister for Parliamentary Business from 2007 to 2011. Crawford served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Stirling from 2007 to 2021, having previously represented the Mid Scotland and Fife region 1999–2007.
Richard Neilson Lochhead is a Scottish politician serving as the Minister for Business since 2023. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he served as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment from 2007 to 2016. Lochhead has been a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 1999, first representing North East Scotland electoral region from 1999 to 2006, before representing the Moray constituency since 2006.
Shona McRory Robison is a Scottish politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government since 2023. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she previously served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 2023 to 2024. Robison has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Dundee City East since 2003 and was an additional member for the North East Scotland region from 1999 to 2003.
Patrick Harvie is a Scottish politician who served as Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants' Rights from 2021 to 2024. He has served as one of two co-leaders of the Scottish Greens since 2008, and is one of the first Green politicians in the UK to serve as a government minister. Harvie has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region since 2003.
Kenneth James Gibson is a Scottish politician serving as the Convenor of the Finance and Public Administration Committee since 2021. A member Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Cunninghame North since 2007, having previously represented the Glasgow electoral region from 1999 to 2003.
Angela Constance is a Scottish politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs since 2023. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Almond Valley since 2007.
Aileen Elizabeth Campbell is a Scottish football administrator and former politician who has served as the chief executive of Scottish Women's Football since 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party, she was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for fourteen years and was a Scottish Government minister for ten, having served on the Scottish Cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government, from 2018 to 2021.
Stuart McMillan is a Scottish politician serving as Convener of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee since 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Greenock and Inverclyde since 2016, having previously represented the West of Scotland region from 2007 to 2016.
The 2021 Scottish Parliament election took place on 11 May 2021, under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998. All 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament were elected in the sixth election since the parliament was re-established in 1999. The election was held alongside the Senedd election in Wales, English local elections, London Assembly and mayoral election and the Hartlepool by-election.
Graeme James Dey is a Scottish politician currently serving as the Minister for Veterans and the Minister for Higher and Further Education since 2023. He served as Minister for Transport from 2021 to 2022, having previously served as Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans from 2018 to 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Angus South since 2011.
Marco Biagi is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He served as the Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment from 2014 to 2016, and as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh Central from 2011 to 2016.
The 2016 Scottish parliament election was held on Thursday, 5 May 2016 to elect 129 members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the fifth election held since the devolved parliament was established in 1999. It was the first parliamentary election in Scotland in which 16 and 17 year olds were eligible to vote, under the provisions of the Scottish Elections Act. It was also the first time the three largest parties were led by women.
Mark McDonald is a Scottish politician who was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Aberdeen Donside constituency from 2013 to 2021, having previously represented the North East Scotland region between 5 May 2011 and 14 May 2013. Formerly a Scottish National Party politician and Minister for Childcare and Early Years in the Scottish Government, he was suspended by the SNP in November 2017 following allegations of inappropriate behaviour against several women. Following a party investigation, the claims were substantiated, McDonald issued an apology on 6 March 2018, announcing he had now left the SNP and would sit in the Scottish Parliament as an Independent.
Mairi Angela Gougeon is a Scottish politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands since 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Angus North and Mearns since 2016.
Ashten Regan is a Scottish politician. She has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh Eastern since 2016. Initially elected to parliament for the Scottish National Party (SNP), she defected to the Alba Party. Regan served under First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as the minister for community safety from 2018 until she resigned in 2022 in protest against her government's Gender Recognition Reform bill.
Nicola Sturgeon formed the second Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 5th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of first minister on 17 May 2016. She was subsequently appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on 18 May, and announced formation of a new Scottish National Party minority government.
Kaukab Stewart is a British politician who has served as Minister for Equalities since May 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Kelvin since May 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)