David Mundell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Mundell
WS MP
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 11 May 2015 – 24 July 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron Theresa May |
| Preceded by | Alistair Carmichael |
| Succeeded by | Alister Jack |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 14 May 2010 – 11 May 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Ann McKechin |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Dunlop |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 7 December 2005 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Leader | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Eleanor Laing |
| Succeeded by | Jim Murphy |
| Member of Parliament for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale |
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| Assumed office 5 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Majority | 4,242 (9.6%) |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for South of Scotland (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) |
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| In office 6 May 1999 – 5 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Derek Brownlee |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Gordon Mundell
27 May 1962 Dumfries, Scotland |
| Political party |
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| Spouse |
Lynda Carmichael
(m. 1987; div. 2012) |
| Children | 3, including Oliver |
| Alma mater |
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David Gordon Mundell (born 27 May 1962) is a Scottish politician. He is a member of the Conservative Party. Since 2005, he has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.
Mr. Mundell served as the Secretary of State for Scotland from 2015 to 2019. Before becoming an MP, he was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the South of Scotland region from 1999 to 2005. He also held roles as Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland and Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.
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Early Life and Education
David Mundell was born in Dumfries, Scotland, on 27 May 1962. He grew up in the areas of Newton Wamphray and Lockerbie. He attended Lockerbie Academy for his schooling.
After school, he went to the University of Edinburgh. There, he studied Law and earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree. He also received a Diploma in Legal Practice (Dip LP).
When he was 14, David Mundell joined the Young Conservatives. Later, in 1981, while at university, he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Before becoming a full-time politician, Mr. Mundell worked as a solicitor. In 1991, he joined BT as a legal advisor for Scotland. He later became BT Scotland's Head of National Affairs. He stayed with BT until he was elected as an MSP.
Early Political Roles
David Mundell began his political career at a local level. From 1984 to 1986, he served as an SDP Councillor on the Annandale and Eskdale District Council. He represented the Dryfe ward.
After that, he was a councillor for the Mid Annandale ward on the Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council until 1987.
Serving in the Scottish Parliament
In 1999, David Mundell was first elected to the Scottish Parliament. He became a Conservative list MSP for the South of Scotland region. He was re-elected to this position in 2003.
Parliamentary Career in the UK
In the 2005 general election, David Mundell was elected to the UK Parliament. He became the MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale. He won with 36.2% of the votes.
After being elected to the UK Parliament, he resigned from the Scottish Parliament in June 2005. As the only Conservative MP from Scotland at the time, David Cameron, who was the Leader of the Opposition, appointed him Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in December 2005.
Key Roles and Elections
David Mundell was re-elected as MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale in the 2010 general election. His vote share increased to 38%. After this election, he was given the role of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. In June 2010, he became a Privy Counsellor.
He was re-elected again in the 2015 general election. His vote share increased to 39.8%. In July 2015, he opened a food bank in a nearby area.
In the Brexit referendum, Mr. Mundell supported Britain staying in the European Union. After the vote, he joined a government committee that worked on strategies for Brexit.
He was re-elected in the 2017 general election with an increased vote share of 49.4%. He was also re-elected in the 2019 general election.
On 23 August 2021, Boris Johnson appointed Mr. Mundell as the UK's trade envoy to New Zealand. He resigned from this position on 6 July 2022.
David Mundell was re-elected again in the 2024 general election.
Personal Life
David Mundell was married to Lynda Jane Carmichael from 1987 until their divorce in 2012. He has three children. One of his children, Oliver Mundell, is also a politician. Oliver Mundell became a Conservative MSP for Dumfriesshire in May 2016.
