SNP leader returns to alma mater

Alex Salmond MSP will take a step back in time next week when he returns to his alma mater (Monday 24 April 2000).

The Leader of the Scottish National Party and MSP for Banff and Buchan will gain an insight into two contrasting sides of University expertise – the Photonics Innovation Centre which helps transform research breakthroughs into commercial projects and the Department of Scottish History where ancient records of the Scottish Parliament (pre-1707) are being digitised for research and public use.

Mr Salmond joined the SNP in 1973 and has been a member of the National Executive Committee since 1981. He was the Vice-Convener of Publicity responsible for the SNP Party Political Broadcasts before the 1987 General Election and was elected leader of the SNP in 1990. He was elected MP for Banff and Buchan in 1987, 1992 and 1997 and is currently the SNP’s Parliamentary Spokesperson on the Constitution and Fisheries.

Born in Linlithgow in 1954, Mr Salmond attended Linlithgow Academy and then progressed to the University of St Andrews where he graduated with Honours in Economics and History.

Mr Salmond has been employed as an Economist in the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries in Scotland and as an Oil and Energy Economist for the Royal Bank of Scotland. Before his election to Parliament, Mr Salmond wrote extensively for the daily and specialist press on politics, fishing, oil and economics. He also contributed to various international and Scottish conferences on both economics and energy.

For more information please contact Claire Grainger on (01334) 462530 or (07887) 650072 Ref: alexsalmond/standrews/chg/19april20 00/PR 1926