Colin Beattie

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Colin Beattie
MSP
Official portrait, 2016
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Midlothian North and Musselburgh
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2011
Preceded byConstituency established
Majority7,906 (18.6%)
Personal details
Born (1951-10-17) 17 October 1951 (age 73)
Forfar,[1] Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Websitewww.colinbeattiemsp.org

Colin Beattie (born 17 October 1951)[2] is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Midlothian North and Musselburgh constituency since 2011. Prior to this role, he was a councillor and group leader of the SNP on Midlothian Council.

Early career

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For 23 years, Beattie worked as an international banker across the Middle East and Asia. He then decided after a period of working in London that he would return to living in Scotland with his wife, Lisa.[citation needed]

Political career

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Beattie took an early retirement in 2006 to focus on being elected to Midlothian Council.[3] He was elected to represent Midlothian South in the 2007 Midlothian Council election[4] and was SNP group leader on the council.[2]

Beattie won the newly created seat of Midlothian North and Musselburgh in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election with a majority of just under 3000 votes.[2][5] He retained his seat in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, with a majority of over 7,000 votes.[6] He was also the SNP National Treasurer from 2004 to 2020; he was defeated in the 2020 SNP internal elections by Douglas Chapman.[7] However, when Chapman later resigned in May 2021, stating "I had not received the support or financial information required to carry out the fiduciary duties of National Treasurer", Beattie returned to the position.[8]

He was selected unopposed as the SNP's candidate for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election[9] and retained his seat, with an increased majority of 7,906.[10][11]

Beattie was formally censured in 2013 by the Standards Commission for Scotland for breaching the Councillors’ code of Conduct for failing to register interest in property whilst a councillor.[12][13]

In 2023, he was arrested during the police investigation into the SNP finances.[14] He was later released without charge, but resigned as SNP treasurer the day after.[15]

Personal life

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Beattie is married to former Midlothian Council leader Lisa Beattie.[16] He lives in Dalkeith, Midlothian.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Colin Beattie". Scottish National Party. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Reynolds, Rory (6 May 2011). "Beattie claims new seat with 'historic' win over Labour". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Colin Beattie MSP | Midlothian North & Musselburgh". Colin Beattie MSP | Midlothian North & Musselburgh. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Scottish Council Elections 2007 Results and Statistics" (PDF). Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  5. ^ "BBC News – Election 2011 – Scotland – Midlothian North & Musselburgh". BBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Midlothian North and Musselburgh – Scottish Parliament constituency – Election 2016 – BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  7. ^ "HISTORY OF THE SNP | Aberdeen SNP". aberdeensnp.org. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  8. ^ Healey, Derek (17 June 2021). "Colin Beattie returns to SNP treasurer role amid growing row over independence donations". The Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  9. ^ Jackson, Luke (13 November 2020). "Colin Beattie chosen as SNP election candidate". Midlothian View. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Midlothian North & Musselburgh - Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  11. ^ Sharp, Marie (7 May 2021). "SNP's Colin Beattie re-elected Midlothian North and Musselburgh's MSP". East Lothian Courier. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  12. ^ Standards Commission Scotland NEWS RELEASE – 18 June 2013 – MIDLOTHIAN HEARING – Councillor Lisa Beattie of MIDLOTHIAN COUNCIL and Mr Colin Beattie MSP (a Former Councillor in MIDLOTHIAN) Archived 24 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Swanson, Ian. "Property rebuke for married Midlothian politicians". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Police arrest SNP treasurer in finance probe". BBC News. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Colin Beattie resigns as SNP treasurer after arrest". 19 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  16. ^ Quinn, Kevin (23 March 2020). "Midlothian North MSP self isolating after his wife is diagnosed with the coronavirus". Midlothian Advertiser. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Who is Colin Beattie? The SNP treasurer and MSP". The National. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
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