Write to Richard at:

68 Rosemount Place
Aberdeen
AB25 2XJ

e-mail:

richard.baker.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

phone:

01224 641171

website:

www.richardbakermsp.com

Richard's Biography

I was born in Edinburgh in May 1974, and my formative years were spent firstly in Fife and then in Cumbria. My father is an Anglican vicar, my mother has now also been ordained, and I have three younger brothers. In October 2004 I got married, and my wife Claire works in the voluntary sector. Fortunately she’s well placed to put up with the hectic lifestyle of an MSP, as we first met while we were both working for the Labour MSPs in the parliament. However, life became a lot more hectic for both of us at the end of 2005 as Claire gave birth to our first daughter Catherine.

I first moved to the North East in 1992 to study English Literature at Aberdeen University. I hugely enjoyed my time studying at the university, and threw myself into a whole range of activities beyond my English Literature degree. Of course I got involved in politics straight away, and joined the University’s Labour Club. However I had other interests too, and at that time I was particularly keen on “treading the boards”. As a first year student I took part in an open-air performance of “Macbeth” at Kings College, and a few years later my Polonius in Hamlet at Aberdeen Arts Centre was reviewed as “a fine supporting performance”!

I’ve always been musical too, and was a member of the student Gilbert and Sullivan Society, appearing as the Major-General in Pirates of Penzance. Some might argue my penchant for amateur dramatics was a natural precursor to becoming active in student politics, and I went on to become President of the National Union of Students in Scotland. I’m very proud of my achievements there, which included successfully changing government policy in Scotland to scrap up-front tuition fees and reintroduce bursaries for poorer students, which this month have been increased.

After I served my term at NUS I became the Scottish Press Officer for Help the Aged. I was lucky enough to be able to work there on another hot political issue in Scotland, free personal care for older people. I helped organise campaigns on the issue in the Scottish Parliament, and the decision to introduce free personal care was a victory both for older people and the Executive and parliament.

With such positive experiences of devolution and Labour’s actions in the parliament it was natural I would be keen to stand for election, and I was delighted to be elected as one of the North East regional list at the last election. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in parliament so far. I like fighting people’s corner, and I have sought to stand up for the North East’s interests at every opportunity. I don’t only enjoy my constituency work and speaking in parliament, but also my work as a member of the parliament’s Enterprise Committee, as it is responsible for issues which are so important to this area.

Life as an MSP is unbelievably busy, but I still try to make time for other things. I’m a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church and sing in the choir at St Andrews Cathedral in Aberdeen. I think it’s important for MSPs to try and do things outside politics as it helps ground them in reality!