Jim Mather

Who is Jim Mather?

Jim Mather is a Scottish politician, former Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism and until the 2011 election, the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Argyll and Bute .

Mather was educated at Paisley Grammar School and Greenock High School before attending the University of Glasgow. Before his election to Holyrood he worked as a chartered accountant and ran his own business. He joined the SNP in 1996 and acted as the SNP’s National Treasurer from 2000.

He is credited with making the economic case for Scottish Independence, having taken the argument to the media, boardrooms and committee rooms across Scotland between 2001 and 2007.

He was the SNP candidate in the 2000 Ayr by-election and was their candidate for Argyll and Bute at the 2003 where he came third. He was elected to the Scottish Parliament as a regional list member for the Highlands and Islands. In opposition he was the SNP's Shadow Enterprise and Economy Minister.

Mather contested Argyll and Bute again at the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election and was successful, winning the seat from George Lyon of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.