Brian Adam

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Brian Adam

| honorific-suffix =

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| office1 =Minister for Parliamentary Business and Chief Whip

| term_start1 = 25 May 2011

| term_end1 = 6 September 2012

| firstminister1 = Alex Salmond

| predecessor1 = Bruce Crawford

| successor1 = Joe Fitzpatrick

| office2 =Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Aberdeen Donside
Aberdeen North (2003–2011)

| term_start2 = 1 May 2003

| term_end2 = 25 April 2013

| predecessor2 = Elaine Thomson

| successor2 = Mark McDonald

| office3 = Member of the Scottish Parliament
for North East Scotland

| term_start3 = 6 May 1999

| term_end3 = 1 May 2003

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|06|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Newmill, near Keith, Moray, Scotland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|04|25|1948|06|10|df=y}}

| death_place = Aberdeen, Scotland

| birthname =

| nationality =

| party = Scottish National Party

| spouse = Dorothy

| relations =

| children = 5

| residence =

| alma_mater = University of Aberdeen

| occupation =

| profession = Biochemist, Trade Union Activist

| signature =

| website = [http://brianadammsp.blogspot.com/ brian adam msp.blogspot.com]}}

Brian James Adam (10 June 1948 – 25 April 2013) was a Scottish politician and biochemist who served as Minister for Parliamentary Business and Chief Whip from 2011 to 2012. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) from 1999 to 2013.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

He was an MSP for the North East Scotland region from 1999 to 2003, then for the Aberdeen North constituency from 2003 to 2011, and for the Aberdeen Donside constituency from 2011 until his death in 2013. From 2007 to 2011, he was Chief Whip for the minority SNP Government and Co-Convener of the Oil and Gas Cross Party Group.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Early life

= Education and career =

Brian James Adam was born on 10 June 1948 in Newmill, Moray.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-brian-adam-msp-politician-and-biochemist-1-2911538 |title=Obituary: Brian Adam MSP, politician and biochemist |first=Martin |last=Hannan |work=The Scotsman |date=27 April 2013 |accessdate=22 May 2016}} He attended Keith Grammar School and obtained a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and a MSc in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of Aberdeen.

He began his career with Glaxo in Montrose, Angus from 1970 to 1973, before working as a biochemist at City Hospital, Aberdeen from 1973 to 1988. From 1988, Adam worked as the principal biochemist in the National Health Service at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

= Early political years =

Adam joined the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 1974 and he was a trade union activist prior to his election to Holyrood in 1999. He served three terms as a councillor for Middlefield and Heathryfold on Aberdeen District Council from 1988 to 1996 and on Aberdeen City Council from 1995 until 1999.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

He stood as a candidate for the Aberdeen North constituency at the 1997 general election for the House of Commons but Labour retained the seat with a majority of 10,000 votes.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Member of the Scottish Parliament

In the first election to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, he contested Aberdeen North. Labour won the seat with a narrow majority of just 398 votes. Adam was elected from the regional list as the second North East Scotland regional MSP in 1999.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/msps/31304.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 1 (1999-2003): Brian Adam |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=29 February 2016 |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508012430/https://www.parliament.scot/msps/31304.aspx |url-status=dead }}

At the 2003 election he stood for the Aberdeen North constituency, this time winning the seat from Labour with a majority of 457 votes.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

He retained the seat at the 2007 election with a significantly increased majority of 3,749 votes, and then again in 2011 in the renamed Aberdeen Donside with an even larger majority of 7,175 votes.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

After struggling with a long illness, his death from cancer was announced on 25 April 2013. Then-First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to Adam as "an outstanding politician, fine human being and a dear friend."{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-22291973 |title=Aberdeen SNP MSP Brian Adam dies aged 64 |work=BBC News |date=25 April 2013}}

Personal life

Adam lived in Aberdeen with his wife Dorothy. He had five children and three grandchildren. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).{{cite web | url=https://news-uk.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/brian-adam--msp--passes-away | title=Church of latter-day saints, mormon news, latter-day saints news | date=27 April 2013 }} Adam was also follower of Aberdeen Football Club and attended the majority of their matches.{{cite web | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12231544.parliament-to-tackle-footballs-feudrangers-and-aberdeens-saga-of-hate-hits-new-low-with-threats-to-referee/ | title=Parliament to tackle football's feud:Rangers and Aberdeen's saga of hate hits new low with threats to referee | date=17 November 2000 }}

Spokesperson posts

May 1999 to September 2000 – Deputy Whip
September 2000 to April 2003 – Deputy Business Manager & Deputy Chief Whip
May 2003 to September 2004 – Deputy Party Spokesperson on Education & Lifelong Learning{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.scot/msps/30728.aspx |title=Previous MSPs: Session 2 (2003-2007): Brian Adam |publisher=Scottish Parliament |accessdate=29 February 2016 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128013244/https://www.parliament.scot/msps/30728.aspx |url-status=dead }}
September 2004 – Deputy Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Parliamentary posts

In June 2003 he became the Convener of the Standards Committee.

May 2007 – Chief Whip
May 2011 – September 2012 − Minister for Parliamentary Business and Chief Whip{{cite news |url=http://legacy.holyrood.com/2011/05/fm-names-new-ministerial-team/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311055230/http://legacy.holyrood.com/2011/05/fm-names-new-ministerial-team/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 March 2016 |title=FM names new ministerial team |first=Lynne |last=Whitelaw |work=Holyrood |date=20 May 2011 |accessdate=29 February 2016 }}

References

External links

[http://brianadammsp.blogspot.com/ Official Blog]
{{SP-MSP}}
[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/msp/brian_adam They Work For You.com]
[http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Brian_Adam&mpc=Aberdeen_North&house=scotland The Public Whip Voting Record]

{{s-ttl

| title=Member of the Scottish Parliament for {{nowrap|Aberdeen North}}

| years=2003–2011

}}

{{s-ttl

| title=Member of the Scottish Parliament for {{nowrap|Aberdeen Donside}}

| years=2011-2013

}}

Category:1948 births

Category:People from Keith, Moray

Category:Scottish biochemists

Category:Scottish trade unionists