Richard Lyle
Richard Macdonald Lyle (born 12 June 1950) is a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament, representing the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency. Lyle had previously represented the Central Scotland region.[1]
Richard Lyle | |
---|---|
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Uddingston and Bellshill | |
Assumed office 6 May 2016 | |
Preceded by | Michael McMahon |
Majority | 4,809 |
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Central Scotland region | |
In office 7 May 2011 – 23 March 2016 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 12 June 1950 |
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Lyle, who was educated at Lawmuir School and Bellshill Academy, has served as a local councillor on Motherwell District Council and North Lanarkshire Council since 1976.[2] Lyle worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland as well before becoming an MSP.[3]
In 2011, Lyle won election as an MSP for the Central Scotland Region.[3]
During the debate on same-sex marriage in Scotland, Lyle along with his SNP colleagues Dave Thompson, John Mason and Bill Walker was widely condemned for raising a motion stating that no person or organisation should be forced to be involved or to approve of same-sex marriage.[4]
In the lead up to the 2016 Holyrood election it was revealed that Lyle's Holyrood nickname is "Salty Dick"[5] after it became public knowledge that he had once claimed the cost of a £1.80 bag of chips on expenses.[6]
Lyle has been at the center of an ongoing internal party dispute within the SNP Uddingston and Bellshill branch which saw a small minority of party members state that they would refuse to vote for him at the Holyrood election.[7]
In February 2019 Lyle announced that he would not be seeking re-election at the next Scottish Parliament election.
References
- The Scottish Parliament - Current Members - Richard Lyle
- "Richard Lyle". Scottish National Party. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
- "Personal Information". www.parliament.scot. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- "Row within SNP over John Mason's gay marriage motion". BBC News. 7 August 2011.
- http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14463094.Election_Unspun__Code_of_silence_for_the_Monklands_McMafia/?ref=mr&lp=7
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/11152858/SNP-MSP-claims-1.80-on-expenses-after-chip-shop-visit.html
- "SNP members to refuse to vote for party MSP as 'Monklands McMafia' row escalates". The Herald.