Nicol Stephen


(Lord Stephen of Lower Deeside)

1960 -

Politician. Born in Aberdeen, Stephen was educated at Robert Gordon's College and the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh, graduating in law in 1981. He began his career as a solicitor before becoming involved in corporate finance and consultancy from 1988. He became Scotland's youngest councillor when he was elected to Grampian Regional Council in 1982. Stephen became Liberal-Democrat Member of Parliament for Kincardine and Deeside in 1991, but served for only five months until the 1992 General Election when the seat was regained by the Conservatives. He entered the Scottish Parliament in 1999 representing Aberdeen South. Stephen served as Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning (1999 - 2000), Deputy Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs (2000-01) and Deputy Minister for Education and Young People (2001-03) and Minister for Transport from (2003-05).

Stephen was elected leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats in 2005, succeeding Jim Wallace (b.1954) and took over the portfolio of Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition government, serving until 2007.

In 2011, he lost out when the boundaries of his constituency were redrawn and it was won by the Scottish National Party. Stephen was elevated to the House of Lords as Lord Stephen of Lower Deeside.


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