Pete Wishart facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pete Wishart MP
Official portrait, 2017
Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 July 2024
Leader	Stephen Flynn
Preceded by	Mhairi Black
Chair of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee
In office 19 June 2015 – 30 May 2024
Preceded by	Ian Davidson
Succeeded by	Patricia Ferguson
Member of Parliament for Perth and Kinross-shire Perth and North Perthshire (2005–2024) North Tayside (2001–2005)
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 June 2001
Preceded by	John Swinney
Majority	4,127 (8.2%)
Scottish National Party portfolios
2015–2020	Commons Business
2020–2021	Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Cabinet Office
2021–2022	Commons Business
Personal details
Born	(1962-03-09) 9 March 1962 (age 63) Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
Political party	Scottish National Party
Children	1
Alma mater	Moray House College of Education
Profession	Musician; community worker
Website	www.petewishartmp.com
Musical career
Origin	Scotland
Instruments	Keyboards
Years active	1981–present
Associated acts	Big Country Runrig MP4

Peter "Pete" Wishart (born March 9, 1962) is a Scottish politician and musician. He is a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and serves as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the U.K. House of Commons. As an MP, he represents the people of Perth and Kinross-shire.

Before becoming a full-time politician, Wishart was a famous musician. He played keyboards for the popular Scottish rock bands Runrig and Big Country. He is the longest-serving SNP MP currently in Parliament.

Early Life and Community Work

Pete Wishart was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1962. He went to Queen Anne High School and later studied at Moray House College in Edinburgh.

Before his career in music and politics, Wishart was trained as a community worker. He was a director of a charity called Fast Forward, which helps young people learn about healthy lifestyles. He also worked with groups to help find solutions to problems affecting young people in Scotland.

Music Career

For 15 years, Pete Wishart was a member of the famous Scottish band Runrig. He was also one of the first members of the band Big Country in the early 1980s.

Runrig

Wishart joined Runrig in 1986 as their keyboard player. He played on seven of the band's studio albums, from The Cutter and the Clan (1987) to The Stamping Ground (2001). This was a very successful time for the band, and they signed with the major record label Chrysalis Records.

MP4

Even as a politician, Wishart has not given up music. He is a founding member of a rock group called MP4, which is made up of four Members of Parliament. Wishart plays keyboards, while other MPs play guitar, bass, and drums.

A Career in Politics

Wishart was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2001 general election. He has represented different areas of Scotland as boundaries have changed over the years. Since 2005, he has represented the area of Perth and North Perthshire.

As an MP, he has held several important roles for the SNP. He has been the party's Chief Whip, a job that involves organizing the party's MPs in Parliament. He has also been the SNP's spokesperson on different topics, including culture, sports, and the constitution.

Key Political Actions and Views

• Iraq War: In 2003, he voted against the United Kingdom's involvement in the invasion of Iraq.
• House of Lords: In 2015, he started a debate in Parliament about making changes to the House of Lords, which is the unelected upper house of the U.K. Parliament.
• Scottish Affairs: From 2015 to 2024, he was the chair of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. This is a group of MPs from different parties who examine issues that are important to Scotland.
• Brexit: After the U.K. voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Wishart said that his party needed to respect the result. He suggested that if Scotland became independent, it could rejoin the EU in stages.
• "Nul Points" Stunt: In 2018, he got attention for a funny moment in Parliament. He asked Prime Minister Theresa May to rate her government's handling of Brexit. After she answered, he held up a sign that said "nul points," like in the Eurovision Song Contest. The Speaker of the House told him off for the stunt.

At the 2017 general election, he won his seat by only 21 votes, which was one of the closest results in the country.

Discography

Here are some of the albums Pete Wishart recorded with his bands.

Studio Albums with Runrig

Albums with MP4

• House Music EP (2005)
• Cross Party (2010)
• MP4 – EP5 (2018)