Neil Findlay

{{Short description|Scottish Labour politician (born 1969)}} {{For|the British Army general|Neil Douglas Findlay}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Neil Findlay | honorific_suffix = | image = File:NeilFindlayMSPPortrait.jpg | caption = Findlay in 2011 | office = Convener of the [[Committees of the Scottish Parliament|Health and Sport Committee]] | term_start = 12 May 2016 | term_end = 19 December 2017 | predecessor = [[Duncan McNeil]] | successor = [[Lewis Macdonald]] | office1 = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] for [[Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothian]] {{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}} | term_start1 = 5 May 2011 | term_end1 = 5 May 2021 | office2 = Scottish Labour portfolios | suboffice2 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing]] | subterm2 = 2013–2014 | suboffice3 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training]] | subterm3 = 2014–2015 | suboffice4 = [[Shadow Cabinet (Scottish Parliament)|Shadow Minister for Campaigns and Party Engagement]] | subterm4 = 2017–2019 | suboffice5 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Brexit and Constitutional Relations]] | subterm5 = 2017–2019 | suboffice6 = [[Minister for Parliamentary Business|Shadow Minister for Parliamentary Business]] | subterm6 = 2018–2019 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|03|6|df=yes}} | birth_place = Bangour General Hospital, [[West Lothian]], Scotland | death_date = | death_place = | birth_name = | party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] | spouse = {{marriage|Fiona Miller|1998}} | relations = | children = 1 | alma_mater = [[University of Strathclyde]] [[University of Glasgow]] | occupation = | profession = Housing Officer, Teacher | website = | other_party = [[Scottish Labour|Labour]] (until 2025) [[Campaign for Socialism]] Red Paper Collective }}

'''Neil Findlay''' (born 6 March 1969) is a Scottish politician who was a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for [[Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothian]] from 2011 to 2021. Formerly a member of [[Scottish Labour]], he resigned from the party in March 2025.

He was previously a councillor in [[West Lothian]] from 2003 to 2012.

==Early life and career== Findlay was born in 1969 in Bangour General Hospital, near [[Broxburn]]. He was raised in [[Blackburn, West Lothian]] and educated at the co-educational, Roman Catholic [[St Kentigern's Academy]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Socialism and Hope: A Journey Through Turbulent Times|last=Findlay|first=Neil|last2=Holmes|first2=Jeff|publisher=Luath Press|year=2017|isbn=978-1-912147-27-4|location=Edinburgh}}</ref>

After leaving school in 1986, he became an apprentice [[bricklayer]] in his father's business, and spent ten years working there. During this time, he also studied at the [[University of Strathclyde]], gaining a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Geography and Politics, and going on to become a housing officer in 1996. After working for Almond Housing Association in [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]] for seven years, Findlay completed a [[Postgraduate Certificate in Education|PGCE]] at the [[University of Glasgow]] in 2003 and became a teacher in [[Falkirk]] for the next eight years.<ref name="neilfindlaymsp.com-about">{{cite web |url=http://www.neilfindlaymsp.com/about-neil-2/ |title=Neil Findlay MSP – About Neil |publisher=Neil Findlay |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104224923/http://www.neilfindlaymsp.com/about-neil-2/ |archive-date=4 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="sp-persinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/27612.aspx |title=Neil Findlay – Personal Information |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029145925/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/27612.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Findlay describes himself as a [[socialist]] and [[trade unionist]], and is on the left of the Labour Party, he's also has a committed Anti-Trident stance and is a member of the [[Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament]] and has been heavily critical in the past of his own party's position on Nuclear Weapons.

==Political career== In [[2003 West Lothian Council election|2003]], Findlay was elected onto [[West Lothian Council]] as a [[Scottish Labour Party|Scottish Labour]] councillor for the [[Fauldhouse]] and [[Breich]] Valley ward. He was re-elected in [[2007 West Lothian Council election|2007]] and stood down in [[2012 West Lothian Council election|2012]].<ref name=neilfindlaymsp.com-about/>

In 2011, Findlay was elected to the [[Scottish Parliament]] as one of seven additional members for [[Lothian (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Lothian]] list.<ref name="sp-bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/Neil-Findlay-MSP.aspx |title=Neil Findlay MSP |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029142414/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/Neil-Findlay-MSP.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2012, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Skills and Learning.<ref name=sp-persinfo/> Leader [[Johann Lamont]] appointed him to the frontbench as [[Shadow Cabinet (Scottish Parliament)|Shadow Cabinet]] Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 29 May 2013.<ref name=bbc-20130628>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-23102607 |title=Johann Lamont in Scottish Labour front bench shake-up |publisher=BBC |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130701212530/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-23102607 |archive-date=1 July 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He has also been a member of the Scottish Parliament's Performance Committee, Local Area Committee and the Services for the Community Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

Ahead of the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]] in 2014, Findlay campaigned for a No vote, advocating a "devomax" position, however unlike many of his colleagues within the Scottish Labour, he did not join the official [[Better Together (campaign)|Better Together]] movement and was a strong critic of his party's involvement due to it being a collaboration with the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]]. Instead, Findlay was part of the Red Paper Collective along with other members of the Scottish Labour Left and the [[Communist Party of Britain]], which aimed to promote a left-wing, socialist vision for voting No on 18 September 2014.

On 29 October 2014, Findlay declared he would stand in the [[2014 Scottish Labour leadership election|upcoming Scottish Labour leadership election]].<ref name="bbc-20141029">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29816347 |title=Scottish Labour leadership: MSP Neil Findlay second to enter contest |publisher=BBC |date=29 October 2014 |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029130552/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29816347 |archive-date=29 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Initially, he wanted [[Gordon Brown]] to stand but Brown ruled himself out. Calling for a "[[clear red water]]" between Labour and the [[Scottish National Party]], Findlay proposed raising the minimum wage, reintroducing council house building, reducing private sector use in the NHS and allowing councils to set taxes to help reverse job losses within their areas.<ref name="bbc-20141104">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29878868 |title=Profile: Neil Findlay, Scottish Labour leadership candidate |publisher=BBC News |date=4 November 2014 |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111170516/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29878868 |archive-date=11 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The trade unions [[ASLEF]], [[Communication Workers Union (UK)|CWU]], [[GMB (trade union)|GMB]], [[Musicians' Union (UK)|Musicians' Union]], [[National Union of Mineworkers (Great Britain)|NUM]], [[National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers|RMT]], [[Transport Salaried Staffs' Association|TSSA]], [[UCATT]], [[UNISON]] and [[Unite the Union|Unite]] supported his candidature.<ref name="bbc-20141105">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29917201 |title=Unite union backs MSP for Labour job |publisher=BBC |date=5 November 2014 |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106085025/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29917201 |archive-date=6 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/ucatt-backs-former-brickie-for-labour-leader |title=Ucatt backs 'former brickie' for Labour leader |newspaper=The Construction Index |date=6 November 2014 |access-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107000523/http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/ucatt-backs-former-brickie-for-labour-leader |archive-date=7 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="bbc-20141108">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29949860 |title=Neil Findlay launches Labour leadership bid |publisher=BBC |date=8 November 2014 |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108150519/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29949860 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/labour-leadership-contest-communication-workers-4607592 |title=Labour leadership contest: Communication Workers Union gives 'full support' to Neil Findlay |last=Jones |first=Alan |newspaper=Daily Record |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114013231/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/labour-leadership-contest-communication-workers-4607592 |archive-date=14 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/findlay-in-work-death-charges-call-1.680125 |title=Findlay in work death charges call |newspaper=The Courier |agency=Press Association |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=13 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113140918/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/findlay-in-work-death-charges-call-1.680125 |archive-date=13 November 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He came second to [[Jim Murphy]] with 34.99% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30461687 |title=MP Jim Murphy named Scottish Labour leader |publisher=BBC |date=13 December 2014 |access-date=13 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213112020/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30461687 |archive-date=13 December 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In the aftermath of his leadership bid, Findlay was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Fair Work, Skills and Training on 16 December 2014 by Murphy and remained in the post until being reshuffled out by Murphy's successor, [[Kezia Dugdale]] in August 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/16/scottish-labour-jim-murphy-reshuffle|title=Scottish Labour reshuffle sees allies and rivals alike on Holyrood front bench|last=Carrell|first=Severin|date=2014-12-16|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-07-15|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2015/08/kezia-dugdale-announces-new-scottish-labour-frontbench/|title=Kezia Dugdale announces new Scottish Labour frontbench|date=2015-08-19|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref>

Findlay was the Scottish campaign chief for [[Jeremy Corbyn]] during the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2015 Labour leadership election]], and is the [[convener]] of Scottish Labour's [[Campaign for Socialism]], succeeding [[Elaine Smith (Scottish politician)|Elaine Smith]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.campaignforsocialism.org.uk/|title=Campaign for Socialism|website=Campaign for Socialism}}</ref><ref name="MS">{{cite news|title=Who's who on the Scottish Labour left|url=https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-d1c2-Whos-who-on-the-Scottish-Labour-left|access-date=28 May 2016|work=Morning Star|date=3 May 2016|page=8|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830235256/https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-d1c2-Whos-who-on-the-Scottish-Labour-left|archive-date=30 August 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> From 2016 until 2017, he served as convener of the Scottish Parliament's [[Committees of the Scottish Parliament|Health and Sport Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.neilfindlaymsp.com/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627140658/http://www.neilfindlaymsp.com/about|url-status=usurped|archive-date=27 June 2017|title=About|website=Neil Findlay MSP|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref> In 2017, he published his book ''Socialism and Hope: A journey through turbulent times'', co-authored with biographer and journalist Jeff Holmes.<ref name=":0" />

Findlay was appointed Scottish Labour's Brexit spokesperson by new leader [[Richard Leonard]] on 19 November 2017, and then also as Parliamentary Business Manager on 4 October 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2017/12/richard-leonards-new-scottish-shadow-cabinet/|title=New Scottish shadow cabinet in full|last=Edwards|first=Peter|date=19 December 2017|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/devolution/2018/10/richard-leonard-stamps-his-authority-scottish-labour-high-stakes|title=Richard Leonard stamps his authority on Scottish Labour with high-stakes reshuffle|last=Bush|first=Stephen|date=4 October 2018|work=New Statesman|language=en|access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref> In early May 2019, [[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]] MP [[Ian Murray (Scottish politician)|Ian Murray]] accused him of "bullying and harassment" in a complaint to Scottish Labour's General Secretary Brian Roy. In turn, Findlay issued a counter-complaint over "derogatory" WhatsApp messages in which Murray accused the leadership of being "full of thugs and incompetents".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48274107|title=Labour politicians in complaints row|last=Eardley|first=Nick|date=14 May 2019|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2 September 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref>

On 28 May 2019, the day after it was confirmed Scottish Labour had finished fifth in Scotland in the [[2019 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|European election]] and lost both its MEPs, Findlay resigned as Brexit spokesperson and Business Manager. He also intimated he would leave the Scottish Parliament after the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election|2021 election]]. He indicated he had made this decision in March after months of thought and denied he was resigning due to the election result. He was however critical of "eternal internal fighting within our party and the toxic culture of leaks and briefings that come from some within the Scottish and UK parliamentary groups".<ref name="BBC28May2019">{{cite news |title=Two MSPs quit Scottish Labour front bench team |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48435192 |access-date=29 May 2019 |work=BBC News Scotland |date=28 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/neil-findlay-resigns-from-scottish-labour-frontbench-and-to-stand-down-as-msp-at-next-elections|title=Neil Findlay resigns from Scottish Labour frontbench and to stand down as MSP at next elections|last=Crae|first=Ross|website=Sunday Post|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref> Following his resignation, he argued Scottish Labour needed to adopt a "clear and easily understood position on the constitution", having previously argued in favour of a federal [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="BBC28May2019" />

On 6 September 2019, a consultation launched by Findlay in the January reported there was overwhelming public support for his proposals for a bill to ban MSPs having second jobs, with some exceptions described as "common sense".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scottishlabour.org.uk/blog/neil-findlay-launches-bid-to-ban-second-jobs-for-msps/|title=Neil Findlay launches bid to ban second jobs for MSPs|date=2019-01-14|website=Scottish Labour|language=en|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/public-support-ban-msps-having-second-jobs-541514|title=Public support ban on MSPs having second jobs|work=Edinburgh News|language=en|access-date=2019-10-10}}</ref> In the October, former [[Scottish Conservatives|Scottish Conservative]] leader [[Ruth Davidson]] announced she was accepting a public relations role for lobbying firm Tulchan Communications while retaining her job as an MSP and Findlay used her appointment as further justification for his bill, arguing the rules which allowed her to do so were "not fit for purpose".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-50168124|title=Ruth Davidson faces calls to resign over PR role|date=24 October 2019|publisher=BBC News|access-date=28 October 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/labour-msp-demands-ruth-davidson-to-reveal-advice-on-new-50-000-a-year-job-1-5033918|title=Labour MSP demands Ruth Davidson to reveal advice on new £50,000 a year job|work=The Scotsman|language=en|access-date=2019-10-28}}</ref>

Along with [[Monica Lennon]], Findlay abstained on an SNP government bill in favour of a [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|second Scottish independence referendum]]. This was against their party's whip, which was to vote against the bill.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/labour-msps-break-party-whip-21130419|title=Labour MSPs break party whip by abstaining on SNP IndyRef2 Bill at Holyrood|last=Hutcheon|first=Paul|date=19 December 2019|website=Daily Record|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>

Findlay mocked Richard Leonard's critics in a September 2020 leaked email: "I support Richard 100% - the usual suspects think we just need to wind back to [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]] and then wave a union flag with gusto with Ian Murray and [deputy leader] [[Jackie Baillie]] leading and all will be well - delusion doesn't come close to it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-labour-leader-richard-leonard-22624739|title=Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard urged to quit by eight parliamentarians|first=Paul|last=Hutcheon|date=3 September 2020|website=Daily Record}}</ref> He also described Leonard's critics in Labour's Scottish Parliament group in the ''[[Morning Star (British newspaper)|Morning Star]]'' as "a kamikaze squad ... determined to destroy what remains of the party".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/richard-leonards-reign-at-top-of-scottish-labour-could-end-in-days-9hr57ttlj|title=Richard Leonard's reign at top of Scottish Labour could end in days|first=John|last=Boothman|date=6 December 2020|via=www.thetimes.co.uk|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Findlay nominated Monica Lennon in the [[2021 Scottish Labour leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scottish Leadership Election 2021 - Nominations|url=http://scottishlabour.org.uk/people/2021-leadership-election/nominations/|access-date=2021-01-24|website=Scottish Labour|language=en|archive-date=16 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416234857/https://scottishlabour.org.uk/people/2021-leadership-election/nominations/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Findlay resigned from the Labour Party in March 2025 in response to the government's changes to the benefits system.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3yp3l175do|first=Angus|last=Cochrane|title=Former Labour MSP quits party over welfare cuts|website=BBC|date=19 March 2025|access-date=20 March 2025|language=en-gb}}</ref> He later predicted that [[Anas Sarwar]] would lead Scottish Labour to its worst ever result at Holyrood.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/25025404.anas-sarwar-will-lead-scottish-labour-humiliating-defeat/|title=Anas Sarwar will lead Scottish Labour to 'humiliating defeat', says ex MSP|last=Walker|first=James|date=20 March 2025|work=The National|access-date=21 March 2025|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Personal life == Findlay is married to Fiona Miller, with whom he has one daughter, Chloe.<ref name=":0" /> He is a member of the trade unions Unite and [[Educational Institute of Scotland]].<ref name="neilfindlaymsp.com">{{cite web|title=Neil Findlay MSP website|url=http://www.neilfindlaymsp.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029172128/http://www.neilfindlaymsp.com/|archive-date=29 October 2014|access-date=6 November 2014|publisher=Neil Findlay|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{SP-MSP}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Findlay, Neil}} [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Blackburn, West Lothian]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Strathclyde]] [[Category:Labour MSPs]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2011–2016]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021]] [[Category:Scottish socialists]] [[Category:Scottish trade unionists]]