Stewart Stevenson
James Stevenson | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 15, 1946 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, former IT director |
| Years active | 1961–2021 |
| Known for | Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (2007–2010); Minister for Environment and Climate Change (2011–2012); MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast (2001–2021) |
James Alexander Stewart Stevenson (Gaelic: Seamus Alasdair Stiùbhart MacSteafain; born 15 October 1946) is a retired Scottish politician who held the positions of Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change from 2007 to 2010 and Minister for Environment and Climate Change between 2011 and 2012. Representing the Scottish National Party (SNP), he served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the constituency of Banffshire and Buchan Coast, formerly known as Banff and Buchan, spanning the years 2001 to 2021.
Early life
Born in Edinburgh to James Stevenson, a medical doctor, and Helen MacGregor, an educator, Stevenson grew up in Cupar, Fife. He completed his secondary education at Bell Baxter High School before pursuing mathematics at the University of Aberdeen. His professional career included three decades in the field of information technology at the Bank of Scotland, culminating in his retirement in 1999 as Director of Technology Innovation.
In Opposition
Stevenson became affiliated with the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1961. He contested the Linlithgow seat during the 1999 Scottish General election, but did not win.
In January 2001, he was chosen as the SNP candidate for Banff and Buchan ahead of the by-election held on 7 June 2001, which was prompted by Alex Salmond stepping down to concentrate on Westminster duties. Stevenson secured the seat with a majority of 8,500 votes over the Conservative contender.
His inaugural speech in Parliament addressed the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy on 14 June 2001. He successfully retained his seat during the 2003 elections.
University Challenge
In 2004, Stevenson participated as a member of the Scottish Parliament team on the quiz program University Challenge – The Professionals. Alongside Richard Baker (Labour), Robin Harper (Green), and team captain Jamie Stone (Lib Dem), they triumphed over a team from the Welsh Assembly with a score of 110 to 75.
Responsibilities
While serving in opposition, Stevenson held the post of Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health until September 2004. Subsequently, he was appointed Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice, focusing on policies related to Prisons and Drugs. He also acted as Convenor of the SNP Group within the Scottish Parliament and Deputy Convenor of the Justice 1 Committee. His roles extended to being a substitute member of the Health Committee and Deputy Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Visual Impairment.
Records
By April 2007, Stevenson had delivered 284 speeches, making him the most frequent speaker since the Parliament's re-establishment in 1999. This figure rose to 406 speeches by March 2011, maintaining his leading position. He marked his 500th speech with a contribution on the Tribunals (Scotland) Bill on 7 November 2013.
He is reputed to hold the record for delivering the longest speech in Parliament, commencing a discourse on International Suicide Prevention Week at 17:21 on 7 September 2004 and concluding nearly twenty-four hours later due to technical issues with sound equipment.
On 12 June 2015, Stevenson became the first MSP to reach a total of 600 speeches in Parliament.
In Government
During the 2007 Scottish General election, Stevenson secured a commanding victory with a majority of 10,530 votes—the largest margin recorded in Scotland—defeating the candidate from the Scottish Conservative Party. Following this election, the SNP established a minority administration, and on 17 May, Stevenson was appointed as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change. In this capacity, he was responsible for managing areas including land use planning, climate change initiatives, building regulations, transport policy and implementation, public transit systems, roads, railways, canals, harbours, air and ferry services, as well as oversight of Scottish Water.
As Minister, Stevenson championed the SNP Government’s inaugural Bill—the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill—which received royal assent on 24 January 2008. Later that year in May, he became the first SNP Minister to formally sign legislation with The Port of Cairnryan Harbour Empowerment Order 2007. Additionally, he introduced the party’s first Legislative Consent Motion concerning the UK Climate Change Bill. Notably, Stevenson was also the first SNP Minister to experience defeat in a parliamentary vote related to the Edinburgh Trams project.
Stevenson played a key role in progressing legislation for the Forth Replacement Crossing, continuing a family tradition connected to infrastructure over the Firth of Forth; his great uncle had chaired the Forth Road Bridge Campaign Committee during the 1930s, with that bridge opening in 1964.
In March 2009, he issued an apology after using an "intemperate word" off-microphone during parliamentary discussions about Transport Scotland. Following heavy snowfall in December 2010 that caused motorists to be stranded overnight, Stevenson praised the government’s handling as "first class" and declined to apologize. However, public disapproval rendered his position unsustainable, culminating in his resignation on 11 December 2010.
2011 Scottish Parliament election
In the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, with new constituency boundaries in place, Stevenson was elected as the SNP representative for the newly formed Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency. He garnered 16,812 votes (67.24%), achieving the highest vote share among all constituencies during that election cycle.
Within the Second Salmond government, Stevenson was appointed as Minister for Environment and Climate Change on 20 May 2011. His tenure in this ministerial post concluded following a cabinet reshuffle on 5 September 2012 when Paul Wheelhouse MSP took over the position.
2016 Scottish Parliament election
Stevenson successfully retained his seat in Banffshire and Buchan Coast during the 2016 election but saw his majority reduced to 6,583 votes.
2021 Scottish Parliament election
Opting to retire at the 2021 election, Stevenson did not seek re-election. His successor was Karen Adam, who won the seat with a majority of 772 votes.
On 30 November 2020, Stevenson was chosen as National Secretary of the SNP for a one-year term.
In October 2022, he resumed academic studies by enrolling in an MSc program focusing on Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies at the University of Strathclyde, with graduation anticipated in November 2025.