Annex E: Biographical details of George
Reid
George Reid retired as Presiding Officer of the Scottish
Parliament in May 2007 after eight years as an MSP.
In the 1970s he was twice elected as an MP. During
this period he was also a member of the Assemblies of the Council
of Europe and the Western European Union.
Between his time at Westminster and Holyrood, he
was Director of Public Affairs of the International Red Cross
and Red Crescent in Geneva, working in wars and disasters around
the world. He continues to advise a number of agencies on democratic
development in conflict areas.
Upon his return to Scotland, the Government appointed
him as a member of the Steering Group for the Scottish Parliament.
He continues his interest in constitutional and electoral matters
as a visiting professor at Glasgow and Stirling Universities.
In 2008-9 he chaired the strategic review of governance in the
Northern Ireland Assembly and has recently completed work as Vice-Chair
of the Carnegie Commission on Civil Society.
George Reid was elected as MP and MSP for the Scottish
National Party. Following his election as Presiding Officer in
2003 he was required to give up all party allegiance, a position
which he maintains today.
Mr Reid was appointed to the Privy Council in 2004.
He has five honorary doctorates from Scottish universities.
He was named Scottish Politician of the Year in both 2003 and
2005.
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