Tam Laird | |
---|---|
Leader of the Scottish Libertarian Party | |
Assumed office 2017 | |
Deputy | Stef Johnstone Caz Paul |
Deputy leader of the Scottish Libertarian Party | |
In office 2012–2017 | |
Preceded by | Office created |
Succeeded by | Stef Johnstone |
Personal details | |
Born | Bellshill, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
Political party | Scottish Libertarian Party |
Other political affiliations | SNP (1990s) |
Tam Laird is a Scottish politician and activist, serving as leader of the Scottish Libertarian Party since 2017. He is a Founding member of the party, and previously served as Deputy Leader of the party.[1]
Laird was an infantry soldier in the British Army, with which he served five years in Northern Ireland.[2][3]
Originally a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), (which he has been highly critical of),[4] Laird is a life-long supporter of Scottish Independence, a position endorsed by the Scottish Libertarian Party. His departure from the SNP was spurred on by what he saw as a change in emphasis within the party platform; from a focus on Scottish Nationalism, to a more conventional left-wing position.[1][5]
Tam has been a strong critic of Scotland's pandemic restrictions,[6] and has taken a monarchist and anti-abortion position on other debates within libertarianism.[7]
Laird has described an early association with hard right politics, which he had become disillusioned with by his late 20s.[7] Laird is a regular contributor to the Scottish Liberty Podcast.
In 2016 Laird failed to win a parliamentary seat in Edinburgh Central.[8] Laird also attempted to win election in a 2019 Edinburgh council by-election.[9]
In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Laird stood again as the Scottish Libertarian candidate for Edinburgh Central, as well as a regional list candidate on the Lothian Region; he was unsuccessful in getting elected, gaining only 137 votes and 0.3% of the vote for the constituency, while the party gained 689 votes and 0.2% of the vote on the regional list.