Andrew Welsh

Andrew Paton Welsh (19 April 1944 – 17 June 2021) was a Scottish politician. He was the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament (MP) for South Angus from October 1974 to 1979, East Angus from 1987 to 1997, and Angus from 1997 to 2001. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the constituency of Angus from 1999 to 2011.

Early life He was born in Glasgow. The youngest of three children, he attended primary school in Cardonald and then educated at Govan High School. In 1967 he went to the University of Glasgow and studied politics and history.

Parliamentary career House of Commons Welsh unsuccessfully contested Central Dunbartonshire in February 1974, coming fourth.

He was elected to South Angus in the October 1974. Following the election, he was announced as the SNP's spokesperson on housing. Welsh returned to Parliament as the MP for East Angus from 1987 to 1997, and Angus from 1997 to 2001. and against an amendment proposed by the Conservative MP Sir Anthony Durant to reduce the age of consent for homosexual intercourse from 21 to 18.

Scottish Parliament In June 1998, Welsh was announced as an SNP candidate for the newly formed Scottish Parliament in the elections that would take place the following year. Welsh was elected as the first Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Scottish Parliament constituency of Angus in May 1999. He was appointed to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) during the first years of the Parliament, when the various systems within the Parliament needed to be set up. Welsh served on the SPCB until January 2006, making him the longest serving member of that body.

He was Convener of the Finance Committee from June 2007 to March 2011. Welsh retired as an MSP when his term ended on 22 March 2011, ahead of the 2011 election.

Outside Parliament From 1984 until 1987, he served as the Provost of Angus, In January 2013, he was announced as a deputy lieutenant for Angus.