Liam Kerr
MSP
Official portrait, 2016
Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party
In office
3 September 2019 – 12 August 2020
Serving with Annie Wells
LeaderJackson Carlaw
Preceded byJackson Carlaw
Succeeded byMeghan Gallacher[lower-alpha 1]
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for North East Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
Assumed office
6 May 2016
Scottish Conservative portfolios
2017–2021Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice
2021–presentShadow Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport
Personal details
Born
Matthew Liam Philip Kerr[1]

(1975-01-23) 23 January 1975
Chester, Cheshire
Political partyScottish Conservatives
Alma materUniversity of St Andrews
University of Edinburgh
University of Law
OccupationSolicitor
WebsiteOfficial Website

Liam Kerr (born 23 January 1975) is a British politician of the Scottish Conservative Party, who served as Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2019 to 2020 and as the Scottish Conservatives’ Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice from 2017 to 2021. Kerr has served as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy & Transport since 2021 and as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Scotland region since 2016.

Early life and education

Liam Kerr grew up in Edinburgh, and was educated at George Watson's College, the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with a MA (Hons.) degree in Sociology in 1997.[1] Having spent time employed as a chef in an Edinburgh restaurant, upon finishing his education he moved to London, working as a session musician and as a salesman in the telecoms industry. He then studied at the College of Law (now the University of Law), gaining a Common Professional Examination award in 2000 and a Legal Practice Certificate the following year.[1]

Career

Initially training as a lawyer with a firm based on the south coast of England, Kerr moved to Aberdeen in 2004 and became an employment lawyer. During his time at Aberdeen, he has given lectures at Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen, been a director of two charities, and performed classical and jazz piano.

Kerr has been an accredited specialist employment lawyer since 2015. Prior to his election, he operated his own practice.

He is a member and former chairman of the Aberdeen 100 Round Table, and a former member of St Fittick Rotary club.

Politics

Kerr is the Scottish Conservatives' Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice.[2] He served as Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, alongside Annie Wells, under Jackson Carlaw. However, they both were dismissed and the post was abolished shortly after Douglas Ross became Scottish Conservative leader in August 2020.[3]

In 2016, he stood for the Scottish Parliament as the Conservative candidate in Aberdeen Donside, coming second to the SNP's Mark McDonald, then was elected on the regional list.[4][5]

In June 2017, Kerr was appointed by the Scottish Conservatives as their for spokesperson for Justice in the Scottish Parliament.[6] He sits on the Justice Committee and is deputy convenor of the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee.[7]

In March 2021 Kerr voted for a motion of no confidence in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon alleging that she had knowingly misled Parliament.[8][9]

In the 2021 Scottish election Kerr stood for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat and came second to the SNP.

Notes

  1. ↑ Office vacant between 12 August 2020 and 9 May 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "KERR, (Matthew) Liam (Philip)". Who's Who. Vol. 2021 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ↑ "MSPs". Conservative Party of Scotland. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Sanderson, Daniel (11 August 2020). "Ruth Davidson's return to frontline politics confirmed as Douglas Ross announces first reshuffle". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Aberdeen Donside – Scottish Parliament constituency – Election 2016". BBC News. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Election 2016: North East Scotland. Scottish Parliament region". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Scottish Conservative's shadow cabinet reshuffle to put Sturgeon on notice". Scottish Conservative Party (Press release). Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Public Profile". Scottish Parliament. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "*". www.parlamaid-alba.scot.
  9. ↑ "Independent report by James Hamilton on the First Minister's self-referral under the Scottish Ministerial Code - gov.scot". www.gov.scot.
  • Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Liam Kerr
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