Calum Robert Kerr (born 5 April 1972) is a Scottish National Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk from 2015 to 2017. During his tenure in Parliament, he was the SNP's Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson in the House of Commons.

Calum Kerr
Kerr in 2016
SNP Spokesperson for Environment and Rural Affairs
In office
20 May 2015 – 9 June 2017
LeaderAngus Robertson
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAngus MacNeil
Member of Parliament
for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
In office
8 May 2015 – 3 May 2017
Preceded byMichael Moore
Succeeded byJohn Lamont
Personal details
Born
Calum Robert Kerr

(1972-04-05) 5 April 1972 (age 52)
Galashiels, Scotland, UK
Political partyScottish National Party
Alma materUniversity of St Andrews
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

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Kerr was born in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.[1] He attended Peebles High School where his father was the head teacher.[2] Kerr read History at St Andrews University.[3] Prior to politics, he worked in sales for IT companies; including Avaya.

Political career

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The seat, and its predecessors Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale and Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles, had been held by the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Liberal Party since 1965.[4]

Kerr was elected in the May 2015 general election,[5] unseating the Liberal Democrat incumbent Michael Moore and finishing just 328 votes ahead of John Lamont of the Conservative Party.[6] He was the SNP's Environment and Rural Affairs spokesperson in the House of Commons.[7]

He stood for re-election at the 2017 general election, but was defeated by Lamont, who won a majority of 11,060 votes; the largest Conservative majority gained in a Scottish seat at that election.[8] He stood again in 2019 but was defeated, although he reduced the Conservative majority. In 2024, he stood once more for election in his old seat, but lost coming second to his successor. [9]

References

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  1. ^ Bircham, Josh; Costello, Grant (5 November 2015). We Are The 56: The individuals behind a political revolution. Freight Books. ISBN 9781910449516. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  2. ^ Hannan, Martin (30 June 2015). "Meet your new Scottish MPs: #31 Calum Kerr, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk". The National. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Calum Kerr MP". snp.org. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  4. ^ Entwistle, Mark (8 May 2015). "ELECTION: Calum Kerr comes through nailbiting recount for SNP in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk". Southern Reporter. Johnston Press. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Results announced for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk". scotborders.gov.uk. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Moore is engulfed in SNP landslide as Kerr celebrates and Lamont is left to lament". Border Telegraph. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Calum Kerr MP". parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  8. ^ "General Election Results 2017 - Seat: Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk". The Scotsman. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  9. ^ Anderson, Joseph (13 December 2019). "General election: John Lamont retains Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk seat". Southern Reporter. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

20152017
Succeeded by