Biography

Mike was born and brought up in Perth, before moving to Edinburgh to study Politics at Edinburgh University in 1984. Over the last 25 years, Mike has worked in the public service and in financial services in Edinburgh, served as a police officer in Lothian & Borders Police for eight years and worked as a systems developer and IT Project Manager for Standard Life for eleven years.

He has been campaigning for the Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh since 1985 and has been a high profile candidate three times in the last 5 years. Mike has fought council by-elections and seats at Scottish and Westminster elections, each time standing to represent the constituency in which he lives. In 2005 he achieved an eight per cent swing from Labour to the Liberal Democrats, well above the national average, and narrowly missed taking the Edinburgh North & Leith seat. He believes passionately that the best campaigners and elected representatives are those who understand and experience local issues and concerns for themselves.

Outside of politics, when not playing with train sets or helping revise for Standard Grades, Mike enjoys photography and listening to classical music.

He lives in the constituency with his wife and two children.

Education:
1984–1987 B.Sc. (Social Sciences), Edinburgh University
1976–1984 Perth High School

Work Experience:
2010 - present: MP for Edinburgh West
2007 - 2010: IT Project Manager, Standard Life Assurance Company
2006 - 2007: Lead Business Service Developer, Standard Life Assurance Company
1998 - 2005: Systems Developer, Standard Life Assurance Company
1990 - 1998: Police Constable, Lothian and Borders Police

Parliamentary Experience:
Westminster Candidate 2010 – Edinburgh West
Scottish Parliament Candidate 2007 – Edinburgh North & Leith
Council By-election Candidate - City of Edinburgh 2005 – Murrayfield
Westminster Candidate 2005 – Edinburgh North & Leith
City of Edinburgh Council Candidate 2003 – Balerno ward
Council By-election Candidate - City of Edinburgh 2002 - Balerno ward

Qualifications:
ITIL V3 Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management
Police (Scotland) Examinations

Marital Status:
Married with two sons (ages 3 and 14)