Donald Gorrie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald Gorrie
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| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) |
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| In office 6 May 1999 – 2 April 2007 |
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| Preceded by | New Parliament |
| Succeeded by | Hugh O'Donnell |
| Member of Parliament for Edinburgh West |
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| In office 1 May 1997 – 14 May 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Lord James Douglas-Hamilton |
| Succeeded by | John Barrett |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Donald Cameron Easterbrook Gorrie
2 April 1933 India |
| Died | 25 August 2012 (aged 79) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal Democrat |
| Spouse | Astrid Gorrie |
Donald Cameron Easterbrook Gorrie (born April 2, 1933 – died August 25, 2012) was a Scottish politician. He was a member of the Liberal Democrat party. Donald Gorrie served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Central Scotland area from 1999 to 2007. Before that, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the British Parliament for Edinburgh West from 1997 to 2001.
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About Donald Gorrie's Life
Donald Gorrie went to Oundle School and then Corpus Christi College, Oxford university. At university, he studied ancient Greek and Roman history, along with modern history. When he was younger, he was a talented athlete. He even held the Scottish record for the 880 yards race. In 1957, he won both the 880 yards and mile races at the Canadian Track and Field Championships. Donald was married to Astrid, and they had two sons and several grandchildren. His son, Robert Gorrie, also became involved in politics as a Liberal Democrat councillor in London.
Donald Gorrie's Early Career in Politics
Donald Gorrie started his career as a schoolteacher. Later, he became the Secretary of the Scottish Liberal Party. In 1971, he became a local politician, known as a city councillor, in Edinburgh. He served on different councils in Edinburgh and the surrounding area for many years, from 1971 to 1997. During this time, he tried four times to become an MP for Edinburgh West. He finally won the election in 1997, becoming an MP in the UK Parliament.
Serving in the Scottish Parliament
Donald Gorrie had a big dream: he wanted to see a Scottish Parliament created and to be a part of it. When the Scottish Parliament was set up after a special vote in 1997, he decided to leave the UK Parliament. He had only served one term as an MP. He wanted to stand for election to the new Scottish Parliament instead.
In 1999, he was elected as a Liberal Democrat MSP for the Central Scotland region. He officially retired from the UK Parliament in 2001.
Donald Gorrie's Political Views
Donald Gorrie was known for being a strong and independent politician. He always stuck to his liberal beliefs. He often disagreed with the Labour Party, feeling they were too controlling. He believed in big political changes and wanted more money spent on public services like schools and hospitals.
Sometimes, his strong views put him at odds with his own party's leaders. For example, he was one of only three Liberal Democrat MSPs who voted against forming a partnership with the Labour Party after the 1999 elections. He felt he was just following what the Liberal Democrats had promised in their election plan.
Second Term and Key Campaigns
After being re-elected as an MSP in 2003, Donald Gorrie focused on specific issues he cared about. He became known for speaking out about the rising costs and problems with the Holyrood building project. He also started an important campaign against sectarianism in Scotland. This means he worked to stop unfair treatment or hatred between different groups, especially religious ones.
At first, his campaign against sectarianism was controversial. But eventually, it became a major issue. The First Minister, Jack McConnell, even took up the cause and tried to pass new laws to deal with it.
Donald Gorrie retired from the Scottish Parliament in 2007. He was respected for always sticking to his principles and for his long service to liberal politics in Scotland.
