Richard Lochhead

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox officeholder Richard Neilson Lochhead (born 24 May 1969) is a Scottish politician serving as the Minister for Business and Employment since 2023.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he served as the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment from 2007 to 2016. He rejoined government in 2018 and has served in a series of junior ministerial posts since. Lochhead has been a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) since 1999, first representing North East Scotland electoral region from 1999 to 2006, before representing the Moray constituency since 2006.

Early life

Richard Neilson Lochhead was born in Paisley on 24 May 1969. He attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston and Central College of Commerce in Glasgow before he graduated in 1994 in Political Studies from the University of Stirling. He worked for the SNP leader, Alex Salmond, as his Office Manager from 1994 to 1998, before becoming an environmental development officer for Dundee City Council.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was the SNP candidate in Gordon in the 1997 UK General Election, where he finished third. He fought the Aberdeen Central constituency in both 1999 and 2003, but came second to Lewis Macdonald each time.

Political career

SNP in opposition; 1999 to 2007

Lochhead was elected to the Scottish Parliament at the 1999 election and re-elected at the 2003 election for the North East Scotland Region. In January 2006 he was selected as the SNP candidate for Moray for the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, following the announcement that Margaret Ewing MSP would be retiring. He beat Margaret Ewing's sister-in-law, former MP Annabelle Ewing in the selection.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ewing's premature death triggered a by-election and Lochhead resigned his additional member seat in April 2006 in order to successfully contest the Moray by-election. He was elected on 28 April 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was the first time since the Second World War that an incumbent party had retained a by-election seat without losing votes or having their majority or share of the vote lowered.

He was convener of the European and External Relations Committee of the Scottish Parliament 11 June 2003 – 14 September 2004. In opposition he held the SNP's portfolios on Environment, Energy, Fishing and Rural Affairs in the Scottish Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rural Affairs Secretary; 2007 to 2016

After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, it was announced on 16 May 2007 that Lochhead would be the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment, taking up the position the following day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The junior Ministerial position of Minister for the Environment was initially given to Michael Russell (currently held by Aileen McLeod). In May 2007, Lochhead started his tenure with promises to "relentlessly" pursue the Scottish fishing interests on behalf of fishermen and their communities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lochhead was re-elected at the 2011 election with a further increased majority of 10,944. He announced his resignation as Environment Secretary, effective on 18 May 2016, as Nicola Sturgeon put together her reshuffle to appoint the second Sturgeon government.<ref name="Scotsman resign 2016">Template:Cite news</ref>

Return to government; 2018 to present

On 31 August 2018 he was announced as Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He retained his seat at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, with an increased majority, number of votes and percentage of votes cast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the election, he was appointed as Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work.

In 2023, he was appointed as Business Minister by the new First Minister Humza Yousaf and has held the role, under various titles, since.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lochhead announced on 26 January 2025 that he would not seek re-election in 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Richard Lochhead is married to Fiona, and they have two children together.<ref name="Scotsman resign 2016"/>

He is a supporter of Aberdeen F.C.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Given that he won the 2006 Moray by-election and was elected at every Scottish Parliament general election since its establishment, Lochhead was the MSP who had been elected to the parliament the highest number of times prior to his retirement in 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, Lochhead spent six weeks in hospital and had to learn how to walk again after becoming seriously ill with sepsis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• personal website
• Template:SP-MSP
• profile on SNP website