Nicol Stephen MSP

Nicol Stephen is MSP for Aberdeen South.

He is a former Member of Parliament for the Kincardine and Deeside constituency. Nicol was first elected to Aberdeen South in 1999, and was re-elected in both 2003 and 2007.

He was a member of the teams which negotiated the Partnership Agreements after the Scottish Parliament elections in 1999 and 2003.

Nicol Stephen's political career summary is as follows:

• Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from June 2005 -

• Deputy First Minister from June 2005 (23 June) - May 2007

• Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning from June 2005 - May 2007

• Minister for Transport from 2003 - 2005

• Deputy Minister for Education and Young People from 2001-2003

• Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs from 2000-2001.

• Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning from 1999-2000.

• Scottish Liberal Democrat Education Spokesman from 1997-1999.

• Scottish Liberal Democrat Health Spokesman from 1995-1997.

• Member of the Liberal Democrat treasury team and spokesperson on small business during his time in the House of Commons from 1991-1992.

• Elected to Grampian Regional Council in 1982 (as Scotland's youngest councillor). Chair of Grampian's Economic Development and Planning Committee from 1986 to 1991.

Nicol is a high profile campaigner for Aberdeen and the North East.

He was the founding chairman of the Grampian Initiative in 1988, and was later appointed as a 'Grampian Ambassador'.

He chaired the STAR campaign (Save Tor-na-Dee Hospital and Roxburghe House) from 1998-99.

He was the first chairman of CREATE (the Campaign for Rail Electrification from Aberdeen to Edinburgh), from 1988-92.

Nicol is one of the few MSPs with business experience. Originally a lawyer in Aberdeen, he moved into corporate finance as a senior manager with Deloitte & Touche.

In 1992, he set up his own project management and consultancy company, which he ran until he was elected as an MSP in 1999.

He was also a founding director of Grampian Enterprise, the local enterprise company for the North East of Scotland now known as Scottish Enterprise Grampian.

Nicol graduated in law, studying at both Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities. He is married and has two sons and two daughters. He lives in Aberdeen.