David McLetchie (born 6 August 1952, Edinburgh) is a Scottish politician, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency. Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party between 1999 and 2005, he resigned following a scandal over his expense claims.

[edit] Background

He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Law in 1974, having attended Leith Academy and George Heriot's School. McLetchie trained as a solicitor with Shepherd + Wedderburn, before joining Tods Murray where he was assumed a partner. He specialised in tax, trusts, and estate planning.

In 1979 he contested the Edinburgh Central seat for the Scottish Conservatives, but lost to Robin Cook.

[edit] Member of the Scottish Parliament

[edit] Leader of the Scottish Conservatives

Since 1999, he has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament. He was also Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party from 1999 until 2005. Initially he was elected as an additional member for the Lothians, but at the 2003 election he won the first past the post seat of Edinburgh Pentlands.

[edit] Resignation

David McLetchie announced his resignation as Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party leader on 31 October 2005, after it was revealed he had spent £11,500 of Scottish taxpayers' money on taxi fares, more than any other MSP.^[1] The problem was not so much the large bill, but the fact that he had used taxis for Conservative and Unionist party business (as opposed to constituency business).

His successor as leader was Annabel Goldie.

[edit] Backbencher

Following his resignation McLetchie had a short spell as a backbencher in the Parliament though he remained a prominent figure, his major successes from this period include his campaigns on free personal care and road pricing.

[edit] Post 2007

In May 2007 McLetchie was returned as MSP for his Edinburgh Pentlands constituency with an increased share of the vote and his majority doubled. On his return he was made Tory Chief Whip and business manager, a role which was set to be more important than ever before given the minority SNP administration.

[edit] External links

• Biography from the Scottish Conservative website
• Biography from scottish.parliament.uk

[edit] References

v • d • e Members of the Scottish Parliament in the Lothians region Elected in the 2007 election Constituency MSPs Sarah Boyack (Lab, Edinburgh Central) · Kenny MacAskill (SNP, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) · Malcolm Chisholm (Lab, Edinburgh North and Leith) · David McLetchie (Con, Edinburgh Pentlands) · Mike Pringle (Lib Dem, Edinburgh South) · Margaret Smith (Lib Dem, Edinburgh West) · Mary Mulligan (Lab, Linlithgow) · Angela Constance (SNP, Livingston)  · Rhona Brankin (Lab, Midlothian) Additional Members Gavin Brown (Con) · George Foulkes (Lab) · Robin Harper (Green) · Fiona Hyslop (SNP) · Margo MacDonald (Ind) · Ian McKee (SNP) · Shirley-Anne Somerville (SNP) Labour (5 seats), SNP (5 seats), Conservative (2 seats), Lib Dems, (2 seats), Greens (1 seat), Independent (1 seat)

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