Roseanna Cunningham


1951 -

Nationalist politician. Born in Glasgow, Cunningham emigrated with her family at the age of 8. She was educated in Western Australia before returning to Britain in 1976 to complete her studies in law. She practised as both a solicitor and advocate before sensationally being elected as the Member of Parliament to represent Perth and Kinross (1995). Cunningham won a by-election for the Scottish National Party, brought about by the death of the sitting Conservative MP, Sir Nicholas Fairbairn (c.1933 - 1995).

Cunningham had stood unsuccessfully for Perth in the 1992 general election, however, following her by-election win, she was returned in the 1997 general election and stood successfully again for the city in the Scottish Parliament election in 1999. She stood down from Westminster at the 2001 election, preferring to concentrate her efforts in the Scottish Parliament.

She rose to become Deputy Leader of the SNP and, in the Scottish Parliament, speaks on behalf of her party on Justice, Equality and Land Reform.


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