James Stuart "Jim" Mather (born 6 March 1947) is a former
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party (SNP; sco, Scots National Pairty, gd, Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta na h-Alba ) is a Scottish nationalist and social democratic political party in Scotland. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scottish independence from ...
(SNP) politician. He was the
from 2007 to 2011, and he was a
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP; gd, Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba, BPA; sco, Memmer o the Scots Pairliament, MSP) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.
Electoral system
The ad ...
(MSP) from 2003 to 2011. He was the SNP's National Treasurer for four years and after leaving Parliament has held various non-executive posts and academic roles.
Early life
Mather was born in
Lochwinnoch
Lochwinnoch (; sco, Lochineuch, gd, Loch Uinneach) is a village in the council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Lying on the banks of Castle Semple Loch and the River Calder, Lochwinnoch is ...
and was educated at
Paisley Grammar School
Paisley Grammar School is a secondary school in Paisley, the largest town in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The school was founded in 1576 by royal charter of King James VI and is situated on Glasgow Road. The school is recognised as one of Scotland's ...
and Greenock High School before attending the
University of Glasgow
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
. Prior to his election to Holyrood he worked as a
chartered accountant and ran his own business.
Political career
He joined the SNP in 1996 and was the SNP's National Treasurer from 2000.
He is credited with making and presenting the economic case for
Scottish Independence
Scottish independence ( gd, Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba; sco, Scots unthirldom) is the idea of Scotland as a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom, and refers to the political movement that is campaigning to bring it about.
S ...
, having taken the argument to the media, boardrooms and committee rooms across Scotland between 2001 and 2007.
He was the SNP candidate in the
2000 Ayr by-election
The Ayr by-election on 16 March 2000 was the first by-election for the Scottish Parliament that had been established the year previously. It was caused by the resignation of Ian Welsh who had been elected at the 1999 Scottish Parliament electio ...
and was their candidate for
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute ( sco, Argyll an Buit; gd, Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, ) is one of 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod (14 July 2020) ...
at the
2003 election. That latter election saw him elected to the Scottish Parliament as a regional list member for the
Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands is an area of Scotland broadly covering the Scottish Highlands, plus Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides (Western Isles).
The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 ...
. In opposition he was the SNP's Shadow Enterprise and Economy Minister.
Mather contested Argyll and Bute again at the
2007 Scottish Parliament Election
The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election to the devolved Scottish Parliament since it was created in 1999. Local elections in Scotland fe ...
and was successful, winning the seat from
George Lyon of the
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats ( gd, Pàrtaidh Libearal Deamocratach na h-Alba, sco, Scots Leeberal Democrats) is a liberal, federalist political party in Scotland, a part of the United Kingdom Liberal Democrats. The party currently holds 4 o ...
.
After the SNP's victory at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, Mather was appointed
and held that post for 4 years until the end of the 2011 parliament.
After Parliament
Jim Mather stood down as an MSP at the
2011 election.
In 2014, he chaired the Scottish Government's Working Together Review, which was asked to produce a report with recommendations that would help create many more progressive and collegiate workplaces in Scotland. That report was well-received and contributed to the creation of a Cabinet role that covers Fair Work and a Fair Work Convention.
In December 2014 he was announced as chairman of the trade body Homes for Scotland, formally taking up the three-year part-time position in May 2015. He stood down by mutual agreement on 12 May 2017.
Mather is currently a visiting professor with the
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde ( gd, Oilthigh Shrath Chluaidh) is a public research university located in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, it is Glasgow's second-oldest university, having received its royal chart ...
and
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University ( gd, Oilthigh Heriot-Watt) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and subsequently granted univ ...
and fulfils other consultancy and speaking roles.
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mather, Jim
1947 births
Living people
Members of the Scottish Parliament 2003–2007
Scottish National Party MSPs
People from Renfrewshire
Scottish accountants
People educated at Paisley Grammar School
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
Academics of the University of Strathclyde
Academics of Heriot-Watt University
Members of the Scottish Parliament 2007–2011