Neil Gray

Gray was born and brought up in Orkney, and was educated at Kirkwall Grammar School.{{cite news |url=http://www.orcadian.co.uk/orkney-man-elected-snp-mp-for-airdrie-and-shotts/ |title=Orkney man elected SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts |work=The Orcadian |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=25 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423100600/https://www.orcadian.co.uk/orkney-man-elected-snp-mp-for-airdrie-and-shotts/ |archive-date=23 April 2019 |url-status=live }} He graduated from the University of Stirling in 2008 with a first-class Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in politics and journalism.{{cite news |url=https://brignews.com/2015/05/15/trio-of-stirling-alumni-elected-as-part-of-nationalist-surge/ |title=Trio of Stirling Alumni Elected As Part Of Nationalist Surge |first=Warren |last=Hardie |work=Brig (University of Stirling) |date=15 May 2015 |access-date=25 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328215202/https://brignews.com/2015/05/15/trio-of-stirling-alumni-elected-as-part-of-nationalist-surge/ |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

Following his graduation, Gray was employed as a producer and reporter with BBC Radio Orkney from 2003 until 2008.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Gray worked as a press and research intern for the SNP parliamentary group at the Scottish Parliament.{{cite news |url=http://www.thenational.scot/politics/14886575.Meet_your_new_Scottish_MPs___3_Neil_Gray__Airdrie___Shotts/ |title=Meet your new Scottish MPs: #3 Neil Gray, Airdrie & Shotts |first=Janice |last=Burns |newspaper=The National |location=Glasgow |date=14 May 2015 |access-date=25 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519135656/http://www.thenational.scot/politics/14886575.Meet_your_new_Scottish_MPs___3_Neil_Gray__Airdrie___Shotts/ |archive-date=19 May 2017 |url-status=live }} Gray was also employed by Alex Neil from 2008, being appointed as constituency office manager in 2011.

The selection process for the Airdrie SNP candidacy, which Neil Gray ultimately won, was not without controversy. Former diplomat Craig Murray was nominated as a potential candidate at an Airdrie Branch meeting but did not make the final list as he failed SNP candidate vetting, whereupon he commented that "I think in both Airdrie & Shotts and in Falkirk it's evident who the party hierarchy wants to be the candidate."{{cite web |first=Tom |last=Gordon |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/torture-whistle-blowers-anger-at-snp-stitch-up-after-election-block.26155630 |title=Torture whistle-blower's anger at SNP 'stitch-up' after election block |date=28 December 2014 |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230210757/http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/torture-whistle-blowers-anger-at-snp-stitch-up-after-election-block.26155630 |archive-date=30 December 2014 |url-status=live }} Former Policeman and SNP Councillor Alan Beveridge resigned from the party in February 2015 after Neil Gray was selected, claiming that there was a "climate of fear, intimidation and false allegations within the party" which were highlighted in the selection process.{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Whitaker |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/snp-councillors-quit-over-candidacy-selection-row-1-3686034 |title=SNP councillors quit over candidacy selection row |date=10 February 2015 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511235240/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/snp-councillors-quit-over-candidacy-selection-row-1-3686034 |archive-date=11 May 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31361218 |title=Lanarkshire councillors quit in SNP target area |work=BBC News |date=10 February 2015 |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420041234/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-31361218 |archive-date=20 April 2015 |url-status=live}}

File:Official portrait of Neil Gray MP crop 2.jpg

In September 2016, Gray as a member of the new Joint Committee on the Palace of Westminster proposed "the Joint Committee declines to consider a draft Report until it has given full consideration to the possibility of constructing a permanent new Parliamentary building, while finding an alternative future use for the Palace of Westminster; notes that this option was included in the Pre-Feasibility Study and Preliminary Strategic Business Case published in October 2012 but was rejected by the House of Commons Commission and the House of Lords House Committee at that stage; and resolves to apply the same rigorous scrutiny to the possible construction of a new Parliamentary building as it has applied to the other options for delivering the Restoration and Renewal Programme, before making a recommendation about the best option for carrying out the works";{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/joint-committees/Palace%20of%20Westminster/Formal-minutes/Collated-formal-minutes-Committee-of-Palace-of-Westminster-2016-17-session.pdf |title=Select Committee On Science And Technology |date=2016–2017 |access-date=9 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523230632/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/joint-committees/Palace%20of%20Westminster/Formal-minutes/Collated-formal-minutes-Committee-of-Palace-of-Westminster-2016-17-session.pdf |archive-date=23 May 2017 |url-status=live}} the committee voted 11–1 against this proposal.

In 2017, he held Airdrie and Shotts with a significantly reduced majority of 195 votes, although he did increase that in the 2019 general election to a stronger majority of 5,000 votes over the second-placed Labour candidate.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Gray has campaigned extensively in support of Roadchef employees, and former employees, who have waited over 20 years for the repayment of money wrongly appropriated by former executive Tim Ingram Hill.{{cite web |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/53243/conduct-of-hmrc-and-the-roadchef-employee-benefits-trust |title=Conduct of HMRC and the Roadchef Employee Benefits Trust |access-date=13 September 2019 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410163040/https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/53243/conduct-of-hmrc-and-the-roadchef-employee-benefits-trust |url-status=live }} On 8 January 2020, he questioned the Prime Minister on the issue, receiving an assurance that the Chancellor would "discuss" the matter with him.{{cite web |date=8 January 2020 |title=Oral Answers to Questions - Volume 669: debated on Wednesday 8 January 2020 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-01-08/debates/4DC6A35D-548A-46EF-AAB0-B8C7A857C46A/OralAnswersToQuestions |url-status=live |access-date=2021-05-08 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131161514/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-01-08/debates/4DC6A35D-548A-46EF-AAB0-B8C7A857C46A/OralAnswersToQuestions }}

In November 2020, Gray announced that he would be resigning as an MP in order to try and win a seat in the Scottish Parliament at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.{{cite web |last=Tonner |first=Judith |date=2020-11-06 |title=Neil Gray to contest Airdrie constituency at Holyrood election |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/neil-gray-contest-airdrie-constituency-22971910 |access-date=2021-03-24 |newspaper=Daily Record |language=en-GB |archive-date=1 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301215622/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/neil-gray-contest-airdrie-constituency-22971910 |url-status=live }} On 23 March 2021, he made his final speech in the House of Commons,{{cite tweet |user=neilgraysnp |last=Gray|first=Neil |number=1374319942930210819 |date=23 March 2021 |title=This afternoon, in a debate starting at around 1.45pm I am eighth on the list and will be making my final speech to the Commons. |access-date=24 March 2021}} and was appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead a day later. He is the only SNP member to have held that notional office.{{cite tweet |last=Sim |first=Philip |date=24 March 2021 |title=Neil Gray has gone from being MP for Airdrie and Shotts to the Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead |user=BBCPhilipSim |number=1374763771273617412 |access-date=8 May 2021}} North Lanarkshire Council calculated that his decision to resign as an MP and trigger a by-election cost taxpayers £175,000.{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Tom |date=25 March 2021 |title=SNP flit leaves taxpayers facing £175,000 byelection bill |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19188276.snp-leave-taxpayers-facing-175-000-bill-byelection/ |access-date=8 May 2021 |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |url-status=live |archive-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401154147/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19188276.snp-leave-taxpayers-facing-175-000-bill-byelection/ }}

On 7 May 2021, Gray was elected as the MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, finishing ahead of former Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard.{{cite news |last=Tonner |first=Judith |date=7 May 2021 |title=HOLYROOD 2021: SNP win Airdrie and Shotts seat |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/holyrood-2021-snp-win-airdrie-24063056 |access-date=7 May 2021 |newspaper=Daily Record |language=en-GB |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507165128/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/holyrood-2021-snp-win-airdrie-24063056 |url-status=live }} Following his election, Gray said, as deputy convener of the SNP's Social Justice and Fairness Commission, that a couple with two children in an independent Scotland could be guaranteed a minimum income of £37,000 annually by the state. He admitted that he had not costed the proposal.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/minimum-income-37000-plan-families-24185086 |title='Minimum income of £37,000' plan for families in independent Scotland |date=26 May 2021 |newspaper=Daily Record |access-date=30 May 2021 |archive-date=30 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530063753/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/minimum-income-37000-plan-families-24185086 |url-status=live }}

In a ministerial reshuffle on 24 January 2022, Gray was appointed as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.scot/news/ministerial-changes/ |title=Ministerial changes |date=24 January 2022 |website=Scottish Government |access-date=25 January 2022 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125004234/https://www.gov.scot/news/ministerial-changes/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-announces-new-transport-minister-for-scotland-as-jenny-gilruth-3540121 |title=Nicola Sturgeon announces new Transport Minister for Scotland as Jenny Gilruth |date=24 January 2022 |first=Anna |last=Bryan |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |access-date=25 January 2022 |archive-date=25 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125004230/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-announces-new-transport-minister-for-scotland-as-jenny-gilruth-3540121 |url-status=live}}

Gray served as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy under Humza Yousaf from 29 March 2023 to 8 February 2024. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care on 8 February, succeeding Michael Matheson, who had resigned amid an expenses scandal, and was retained in that role by John Swinney.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/neil-gray/ |title=Scottish Government: Neil Gray MSP |website=Scottish Government |access-date=13 November 2024 }}

In November 2024, Gray faced criticism after it was revealed that he had used an official ministerial car to be chauffeured to watch four Aberdeen F.C. football matches. Gray, an acknowledged fan of Aberdeen F.C., registered the events as official government visits. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Gray also admitted to using an official car to attend five Scotland matches, and that he had been accompanied by a family member or guest to six of the matches. Gray said all the engagements were "official ministerial business" and that summaries were available for all of the meetings, but apologised for not attending "a wider range of games", and for creating the impression that he was acting "more as a fan and less as a minister". The Scottish Conservatives accused Gray of having a "jolly to watch the football" at the expense of the taxpayer and called for the costs to be refunded in full, while the Scottish Greens criticised him for not using public transport. First Minister John Swinney told journalists that he would not refer Gray for investigation under the ministerial code, and that he considered the matter "closed".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgwpdvpg6yo |title=Gray 'sorry' after chauffeur trips to football |date=14 November 2024 |first=Angus |last=Cochrane |newspaper=BBC News |location= UK}}

In January 2025, a Freedom of Information request revealed that no note was produced of the Gray's meeting at the 2023 League Cup final at Hampden Park. Gray subsequently apologised to the Scottish Parliament for making a misleading statement.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c897gj9dn9eo |title=Gray apologises for misleading MSPs over football match meetings |date=21 January 2025 |newspaper=BBC News |location= UK}} John Swinney re-iterated his support for Gray and insisted that the Health Secretary had made an "inadvertent error".{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rq1vgvxzdo |title=Swinney backs Gray after second apology to MSPs |date=22 January 2025 |newspaper=BBC News |location= UK}}

In June 2025, it was revealed that in 2024 Gray had also used his official ministerial car to be chauffeured to a pub before an Aberdeen F.C. match. The journeys were logged in the official ministerial register as trips to and from a "personal address, Aberdeen". These entries were amended after an investigation by the Scottish Daily Mail showed that no evidence of such an address could be found. Officials acknowledged that Gray had no home address in Aberdeen; the Scottish Government insisted there had been an "administration error", and the First Minister John Swinney said, "The ministerial car was used in accordance with the rules that have been set out within the guidance on this occasion. And those rules that are clearly and publicly advertised have been followed on this occasion."{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25237104.neil-gray-faces-fresh-questions-limogate-row/ |title=Neil Gray faces fresh questions over 'limogate' row |date=13 June 2025 |newspaper=The Herald |location= UK}}

Outside politics Gray was formerly a keen athlete, representing Scotland in the 400 m, until a serious knee injury ended his career in athletics.{{cite web |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/government-and-public-sector/house/79751/neil-gray-we-cannot-artificially-crowbar-21st |title=Neil Gray: We cannot artificially crowbar a 21st century parliament into an old palace |first=Mark |last=Leftly |website=PoliticsHome |date=11 October 2016 |access-date=25 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426060620/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/government-and-public-sector/house/79751/neil-gray-we-cannot-artificially-crowbar-21st |archive-date=26 April 2017 |url-status=live}}

Neil has three daughters and one son with his wife, Karlie.{{cite web |title=Neil Gray, Airdrie & Shotts |url=https://www.snp.org/your-team/neil-gray/ |website=Scottish National Party |access-date=4 September 2019 |date=4 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904120429/https://www.snp.org/your-team/neil-gray/ |archive-date=4 September 2019 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Neil Gray's first job as MSP after beating Richard Leonard - the milk run |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19288069.election-2021-neil-grays-first-job-msp---milk-run/ |last=Paterson |first=Kirsteen |date=7 May 2021 |access-date=8 May 2021 |newspaper=The National |location=Glasgow |language=en|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508002209/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19288069.election-2021-neil-grays-first-job-msp---milk-run/|url-status=live}}

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