Ross Greer (politician)
| Ross Greer MSP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for West Scotland | |
|
Assumed office 5 May 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 June 1994 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Scottish Green Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Yes Scotland (2012–2014) |
| Residence | Milngavie, Scotland |
| Education |
University of Strathclyde (did not graduate) |
| Occupation | campaigner |
| Religion | Church of Scotland |
Ross John Greer (born 1 June 1994) is a Scottish Green Party politician who is a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the West Scotland region. Greer is the youngest ever MSP, elected at the 2016 election at the age of 21 years old.
Early life
Greer was educated at Bearsden Academy, leaving in 2012.[1][2]
Greer was a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, representing the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency 2011–13.[3] Greer joined the Scottish Green party at age 15 years.[4]
He took part in the Debating Matters competition in 2012, where he reached the National Final.[5]
He began a course of study at the University of Strathclyde, Psychology & Politics, then left in December 2012 to work for Yes Scotland as their Communities Coordinator during the Scottish independence referendum, 2014.[5]
Political career
During the campaign ahead of the referendum he was Yes Scotland’s youth and student coordinator. and was the communities coordinator at the pro-independence campaign Yes Scotland during the independence referendum campaign.[6]
After the referendum, he was employed by the Greens in a role that involved strategy development.[7]
He stood as the Scottish Green candidate in the East Dunbartonshire constituency in the United Kingdom general election, 2015, although he was not successful.[4] He became the Scottish Greens' party spokesman on Europe and external affairs.[8]
In March 2015, the Scottish Greens announced that Greer had been selected as the lead candidate for their West of Scotland regional list, following a ballot of their members.[9]
Ahead of the 2016 elections, Greer was critical that the general level of engagement with 16 and 17 year olds as first time voters had been below what was seen in the referendum.[10]
On the 6 May 2016 the West of Scotland regional list result was declared and Greer was elected at the age of 21 years old, making him Scotland's youngest MSP.[11] Before Greer was elected, the youngest MSP had previously been Labour’s Mark Griffin, who was 25 years old when he was first elected in 2011.[1]
References
- 1 2 Davidson, Jenni (6 May 2016). "Youngest ever MSP elected for the Scottish Greens". Holyrood.
- ↑ "Greer is unveiled as the Green Party's Westminster hope". Bearsden & Milngavie Herald. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ↑ Bowden, George (6 May 2016). "Scottish Election Results: Greens' Ross Greer Becomes Youngest MSP". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- 1 2 Coutts, Eva (6 May 2016). "Holyrood 2016: Greens' Ross Greer, 21, becomes youngest MSP". The Scotsman. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- 1 2 "People: Ross Greer". www.debatingmatters.com. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ↑ Belgutay, Julia (13 September 2013). "Why teachers need to cast a vote for clarity". TESS. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ↑ "Election 2016: Scottish Green Ross Greer elected youngest ever MSP at 21 on West of Scotland list". The Herald. Glasgow. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ↑ "Scottish Greens consider pro-Europe campaign". The Scotsman. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ↑ "Scottish Greens regional list candidates". Holyrood. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ↑ Brooks, Libby (3 May 2016). "Don't patronise us, Scottish teenagers tell politicians bidding for their votes". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
- ↑ "Greens' Ross Greer becomes youngest MSP". BBC News. 6 May 2016.