Mike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie

Last updated

The Right Honourable
The Lord Watson of Invergowrie
Official portrait of Lord Watson of Invergowrie crop 2, 2020.jpg
Watson in 2020
Shadow Minister for Education
Assumed office
18 September 2015

Watson was born in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, but his family moved to Invergowrie, Perth and Kinross when he was very young. He was educated at Invergowrie Primary School, the High School of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, graduating with a B.A. Hons in Economics and Industrial Relations in 1974.

Prior to entering politics Watson worked as a tutor/organiser for the Workers' Educational Association and in the trade union movement, for the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs (ASTMS) and the Manufacturing, Science and Finance union (MSF).

Political career

Watson was elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Central at a by-election in 1989, following the death of Bob McTaggart MP. He was re-elected in the 1992 election and represented that constituency until it was abolished in 1997. He sought the nomination from the Labour party to run for the Govan seat at the 1997 election, but after initially winning the nomination by one vote, he lost a re-run to Mohammad Sarwar.

On 6 November 1997, he was created a life peer as Baron Watson of Invergowrie, of Invergowrie in Perth and Kinross. [5] [6]

In 1999 Lord Watson was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow Cathcart constituency and was re-elected in 2003. On 20 July 1999 Watson announced his intention to introduce the Protection of Wild Mammals bill as a member's bill to the Scottish Parliament to outlaw fox hunting. The bill passed a vote 83–36 on 13 February 2002 [7] and received Royal Assent on 15 March, becoming the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 and becoming law on 1 August. This was a precursor to the Hunting Act 2004 banning fox hunting in England and Wales.[ citation needed ]

When Jack McConnell became First Minister in 2001, Watson entered the Scottish Executive as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. He left the Executive in 2003, having lost his position in a reshuffle after the 2003 election. [8] He subsequently became deputy convener of the enterprise and culture committee. [8]

On 15 November 2004, Watson was charged with wilful fire raising, and the Labour whip was withdrawn from him in the Holyrood and Westminster parliaments. [8] On 1 September 2005 he admitted the offence and resigned from the Scottish Parliament. [9] Watson was also expelled from the Labour Party when the sentence was announced. [10] After serving a prison sentence he was released in May 2006.

In January 2007 Watson was appointed as an Associate Director with Caledonia Consulting, while also attending the House of Lords on a regular basis.[ citation needed ] Watson was re-admitted to membership of the Labour Party in July 2012, after a vote of the National Executive Committee. [1] In September 2015, Jeremy Corbyn appointed Watson as the Labour spokesman on education in the Lords. [3]

Fire-raising conviction

On 15 November 2004, Lord Watson was charged with two counts of "wilful fire raising" after a private reception at Edinburgh's Prestonfield Hotel following the Scottish Politician of the Year awards on 11 November. [11] The first alleged that he set fire to a curtain in the hotel's reception, and the second that he set fire to a curtain in the hotel's Yellow Room. On being charged, the Labour whip was suspended in the Holyrood and Westminster parliaments. [8]

After initially registering not guilty pleas to both charges on 23 August 2005, [8] he changed his plea on 1 September to guilty on the first count, and had a not guilty plea accepted on the second charge. [9]

On the same day that Lord Watson admitted his guilt, he resigned from the Scottish Parliament. He resigned as a director of Dundee United Football Club. [9] It was not possible for a life peer to resign from the House of Lords at that time and there was no provision for peers convicted of criminal offences to be stripped of their titles. Such legislation was last proposed following the conviction of Jeffrey Archer for perjury in 2001, but rejected.[ citation needed ] The House of Lords Reform Act 2014 made resignation possible.

On 22 September 2005, Lord Watson was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment. [10] Sheriff Kathrine Mackie justified the sentence, stating that there was both "a significant risk of re-offending" and that Lord Watson offered no explanation. She also told Lord Watson that consumption of alcohol "neither excuses nor fully explains your behaviour". The sentence was reduced from 20 months to 16 because Watson had pleaded guilty before the case reached trial. [10] Watson appealed against his sentence on 23 March 2006 but the appeal judges refused to cut the term, and he was returned to prison. After serving half of his sentence (eight months), he was released on 23 May 2006. [12]

Views on Jeremy Corbyn

In an interview with The House magazine in March 2017, Lord Watson was asked whether Labour could win a UK general election under Jeremy Corbyn. He said: "Probably not. There are trends there that suggest we're not getting through and the result in Copeland certainly suggested that, so it will be difficult to turn that around. But we shouldn't underestimate the extent to which the government can get into difficulties over the European Union exit negotiations. It's not going to be anything approaching plain sailing for them." [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Steel</span> British politician

David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, is a retired Scottish politician. Elected as Member of Parliament for Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles, followed by Tweeddale, Ettrick, and Lauderdale, he served as the final leader of the Liberal Party, from 1976 to 1988. His tenure spanned the duration of the alliance with the Social Democratic Party, which began in 1981 and concluded with the formation of the Liberal Democrats in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton</span> British politician, peer and barrister (born 1951)

Charles Leslie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton, is a British Labour peer and barrister who served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2003 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock</span> British politician (born 1942)

George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock PC is a British politician and life peer who served as Minister of State for Scotland from 2001 to 2002. A member of the Scottish Labour Party and Co-operative Party, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, formerly South Ayrshire, from 1979 to 2005. He was later a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), as one of the additional members for the Lothians region, from 2007 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack McConnell</span> Former First Minister of Scotland, Labour life peer

Jack Wilson McConnell, Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale, is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland from 2001 to 2007. McConnell served as the Minister for Finance from 1999 to 2000 and Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs from 2000 to 2001. He has been a Labour life peer in the House of Lords since 2010 and previously served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Motherwell and Wishaw from 1999 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness</span> Scottish politician (born 1954)

James Robert Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness, is a Scottish politician serving as a Liberal Democrat life peer in the British House of Lords since 2007 and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 2021 to 2022. He served as the Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 1999 to 2005, and during that time he served twice as acting First Minister, in 2000, in the aftermath of Donald Dewar's death and in 2001, following Henry McLeish's resignation. He was formerly Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1992 to 2005 and Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords from 2013 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Scrymgeour, 12th Earl of Dundee</span> Scottish peer (born 1949)

Alexander Henry Scrymgeour, 12th Earl of Dundee,, is a Scottish peer, Conservative politician and Chief of the Clan Scrymgeour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicol Stephen</span> British politician (born 1960)

Nicol Ross Stephen, Baron Stephen is a Scottish politician who served as Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning from 2005 to 2007. A member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, he was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Aberdeen South from 1999 to 2011, and was leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2005 to 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katy Clark</span> Scottish politician and life peer (born 1967)

Kathryn Sloan Clark, Baroness Clark of Kilwinning, is a British politician and life peer who has served as a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the West Scotland region since 2021. A member of the Labour Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for North Ayrshire and Arran from 2005 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Purvis</span> British politician (born 1974)

Jeremy Purvis, Baron Purvis of Tweed is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale from 2003 to 2011. In August 2013 it was announced that he would be elevated to the House of Lords.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Glasgow Cathcart by-election</span>

The Glasgow Cathcart by-election to the Scottish Parliament was held on 29 September 2005. It was caused by the resignation from the Scottish Parliament of Mike Watson, who won the seat at both the 1999 and 2003 elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Politician of the Year</span>

Scottish Politician of the Year is an annual award established in 1999. It is held by The Herald newspaper in Prestonfield House, Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Grabiner, Baron Grabiner</span> British lawyer (born 1945)

Anthony Stephen Grabiner, Baron Grabiner, KC is a British barrister, academic administrator, and life peer. He is head of chambers at One Essex Court, a leading set of commercial barristers in the Temple, and was the Treasurer of Lincoln's Inn for 2013. From 2014 to 2021 he served as the Master of Clare College, Cambridge and, since 2015, he has served as the President of the University of Law. Grabiner was non-executive chairman of Taveta Investments Ltd, the holding company of Sir Philip Green behind Arcadia Group from 2002 to December 2015.

Caledonia Consulting is a public affairs and communications firm, established in December 2006, in Edinburgh, Scotland, and run by director Margaret Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anas Sarwar</span> Leader of the Scottish Labour Party

Anas Sarwar is a politician who has served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party since 2021. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow region since 2016, having been Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow Central from 2010 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Marra</span> Scottish politician

Jennifer Margaret Marra is a Scottish politician who served as convener of the Public Audit Committee. A member of the Scottish Labour Party, she was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Scotland region from 2011 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kezia Dugdale</span> Former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, MSP for Lothian

Kezia Alexandra Ross Dugdale is a Scottish former politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2015 to 2017. A former member of the Scottish Labour Party and Co-operative Party, she was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Lothian region from 2011 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iain McNicol</span> British politician and trade unionist (born 1969)

Iain Mackenzie McNicol, Baron McNicol of West Kilbride is a British politician, trade unionist and life peer who served as General Secretary of the Labour Party from 2011 to 2018. He was National Political Officer of the GMB trade union from 2004 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestonfield House</span> Building in Edinburgh, Scotland

Prestonfield House is a boutique hotel in Prestonfield, Edinburgh, Scotland. Originally built in 1687 by architect Sir William Bruce, it was once considered a wealthy rural estate, however in recent decades, it has come to serve as a hotel. Although it falls on the small side as an establishment, having only 23 rooms, it is well-known to hotel and hospitality critics. The hotel is at the foot of Arthur's Seat and has a large roundhouse, previously used for keeping horses. The stables were repurposed and now host events, including the "Taste of Scotland Festival".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Leonard</span> Former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party

Richard Leonard is a British politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2017 to 2021. He has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), as one of the additional members for the Central Scotland region, since 2016. He ideologically identifies as a socialist, democrat and internationalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes Villalba</span> Scottish Labour politician

Mercedes Villalba is a Scottish Labour politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for North East Scotland since May 2021.

References

  1. 1 2 "Labour blasted after firebug peer Mike Watson is welcomed back into party seven years after hotel blaze". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Lord Watson of Invergowrie". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 Fraser Nelson, Jeremy Corbyn appoints convicted arsonist Mike Watson as his education spokesman at spectator.co.uk dated 18 September 2015
  4. ↑ Michael Settle, Jeremy Corbyn appoints disgraced peer Lord Mike Watson to Labour frontbench dated 18 September 2015 at heraldscotland.com
  5. ↑ "No. 54946". The London Gazette . 12 November 1997. p. 12703.
  6. ↑ "Watson of Invergowrie, Baron, (Michael Goodall Watson) (born 1 May 1949) | WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO". www.ukwhoswho.com. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u39024. ISBN   978-0-19-954088-4 . Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Watson's pride over hunting ban". BBC News. BBC. 15 February 2002. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "MSP denies fire-raising charges". BBC News. BBC. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 "Peer pleads guilty to fire charge". BBC News. BBC. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 "Fire-raising peer sent to prison". BBC News. BBC.co.uk. 22 September 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "MSP bailed on fireraising charges". BBC News. BBC. 30 November 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  12. ↑ Lydall, Ross (5 February 2009). "Fire-raiser Lord Watson told to do the honourable thing". The Scotsman. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Bibliography

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Glasgow Central
1989–1997 		Constituency abolished
Scottish Parliament
New parliament
 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Cathcart
1999–2005 		Succeeded by
Political offices
New office Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
2001–2003		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Gaelic
2001–2003		Succeeded by
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by Gentlemen
Baron Watson of Invergowrie		Followed by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.