{{Short description|Scottish Conservative politician}} {{Use dmy dates |date=May 2016}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Maurice Golden | honorific_suffix = FRSA | image = File:Official portrait of Maurice Golden MSP (cropped).jpg | image_size = 220px | caption = Official portrait, 2016 | office = Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture | term_start = 18 February 2020 | term_end = 20 May 2021 | leader = Jackson Carlaw<br />Douglas Ross | predecessor = Dean Lockhart | successor = | office1 = Chief Whip of the Scottish Conservative Party | term_start1 = 28 June 2017 | term_end1 = 14 February 2020 | leader1 = Ruth Davidson | predecessor1 = John Lamont | successor1 = Liz Smith | office2 = Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform | term_start2 = 19 May 2016 | term_end2 = 28 June 2017 | leader2 = Ruth Davidson | predecessor2 = Sarah Boyack | successor2 = Donald Cameron | office3 = Member of the Scottish Parliament<br />for North East Scotland<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}} | term_start3 = 6 May 2021 | term_end3 = 9 April 2026 | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | office4 = Member of the Scottish Parliament<br />for West Scotland<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}} | term_start4 = 6 May 2016 | term_end4 = 5 May 2021 | predecessor4 = | successor4 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|1|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Dundee, Scotland | death_date = | death_place = | party = Scottish Conservatives | alma_mater = University of Dundee | website = [https://www.mauricegolden.com/Official Website] | birth_name = Maurice Charles Golden }} '''Maurice Charles Golden''' (born 12 January 1980) is a Scottish Conservative politician. He served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Scotland region from 2021 to 2026, having previously been elected in 2016 for West Scotland.
Golden was the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture until May 2021. He was also previously Chief Whip and Business Manager.
==Early life and education== Golden attended Gowriehill Primary School, the High School of Dundee and the University of Dundee from 1997 until 2001, and graduated with an MA (Honours) degree in Economics before going on to complete an MPhil in urban and cultural history and an LLM in Environmental Law. In 2010, Golden received qualification from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.
Golden has experience in the waste and energy sectors, previously working for Ofgem and Consumer Focus as well as with Local Authorities advising on kerbside collections. He led the Circular Economy Programme for Zero Waste Scotland after 2011.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}
==Political career== Golden has been a member of the Conservative Party since 1998. Golden stood for the Local Authority Elections in Dundee in Sidlaw West in 2002.{{cn|date=May 2026}} He worked as a Campaign Manager for Douglas Taylor in the Perth and North Perthshire constituency in 2005. He stood for the Scottish Parliament in 2007 as the Conservative candidate for Central Fife. He was selected as the Conservative Party candidate in the Glenrothes by-election for the Westminster Parliament in 2008, securing third place as Labour retained the seat.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7714670.stm|title=Glenrothes result in full|date=2008-11-07|access-date=2018-08-03|language=en-GB}}</ref> Two years later Golden secured second place in Central Ayrshire with 8,934 votes<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/uk-election/results2010.aspx|title=UK Parliament Results 2010 {{!}} South Ayrshire Council|work=South Ayrshire Council|access-date=2018-08-03|language=en|archive-date=3 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803163628/https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/uk-election/results2010.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> after standing in the 2010 UK General Election. In 2011, Golden stood for election to the Scottish Parliament in the Cunninghame North constituency. ===Member of the Scottish Parliament=== In 2016, Golden stood for the Scottish Parliament as the Conservative candidate for Clydebank and Milngavie where he took third place with 6,029 votes (18.4%).<ref>{{cite news|title = Clydebank and Milngavie|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/scotland-constituencies/S16000089|work = BBC News|access-date = 2 August 2025}}</ref> Having not won the constituency, he was elected from the West Scotland regional list.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/scotland-regions/S17000016 |title=Election 2016: West Scotland. Scottish Parliament region |work=BBC News |date=6 May 2016}}</ref> Golden was the Chief Whip and Business Manager, and Spokesperson for the Low Carbon Economy in the Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/99754.aspx|website=Scottish Parliament|accessdate=21 June 2016}}</ref>
At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Golden sought re-election as a list candidate for the North East Scotland region.<ref>{{cite news|title = Scottish Parliament election 2021: North East Scotland regional candidates|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56564921|work = BBC News|date = 6 April 2021|access-date = 2 August 2025}}</ref> Additionally, he ran in the Angus South constituency, finishing second with 34.8% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|title = Angus South - Scottish Parliament election 2021|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/scotland/constituencies/S16000082|work = BBC News|access-date = 2 August 2025}}</ref> On the regional list, the Conservatives retained their four seats, with Golden being re-elected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/3123949/douglas-lumsden-regional-list/|title=Aberdeen city council co-leader to step down as Tories dominate list seats and Alba miss out|first=Alastair|last=Gossip|date=8 May 2021 }}</ref>
In 2023, Golden voted against a Conservative amendment during a debate on climate change. This was due to an objection over the watering down of climate pledges made by his party.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scottish Tory MSP votes against own party on environment|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/scottish-tory-msp-maurice-golden-votes-against-own-party-on-environment|website=STV News|date=2023-09-26|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-GB|first=P. A.|last=Media}}</ref>
Golden has pushed for a Members' Bill to tackle dog theft. The proposed law would make it a specific offence to steal a dog.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/dog-theft-bill-progresses-but-critics-maintain-its-barking-mad-fkrpf602w|title=New law will ban theft of dogs — although it’s illegal already|last=Boothman|first=John|work=The Times}}</ref> His Bill received unanimous backing from the Parliament at stage one in October 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scottish Parliament backs plan for dog theft law|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgq4pxgwvp0o|website=BBC News|date=2025-10-02|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In April 2025, Golden announced that he would not stand in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tory MSP Maurice Golden to stand down at next election|url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,tory-msp-maurice-golden-to-stand-down-at-next-election|website=Holyrood Website|date=2025-04-07|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en}}</ref> Later that year he said that he would have "struggled" to stand for the party and that under the leadership of Russell Findlay it had "moved so far away from where [it was when] I started" by adopting a more populist stance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tory MSP says he couldn't stand for 'shambolic' party at next election|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/tory-msp-maurice-golden-says-he-couldnt-stand-for-shambolic-party-at-next-election|website=STV News|date=2025-11-26|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-GB|first=Danyel|last=VanReenen}}</ref>
== Personal life == In 2016, Golden was made a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
== External links == * {{SP-MSP}}
{{Former Conservative MSPs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Golden, Maurice}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Dundee Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Conservative MSPs Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021 Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026 Category:People educated at the High School of Dundee Category:Scottish Conservative parliamentary candidates