Andy Wightman

Background

He was born in Dundee and graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1985 with a degree in forestry.

Career

He is the author of "Who Owns Scotland" and "The Poor Had Number Lawyers". He began his career as a scientist working on renewable energy at the University of Aberdeen and then as a Projects Officer with Central Scotland Countryside Trust. He became a self-employed writer and researcher in 1993.

Over the next 20 years, he contributed to a wide range of debates on land use, land reform, the Crown estate, common good land, local democracy and fiscal reform.

Author of a number of reports on these topics, he also served as a Specialist Adviser to the UK Parliament"s Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry on land reform 2014–2015. He was coordinator of the Land Action Scotland campaign.

The campaign has the stated aim of supporting local residents though seeking to democratise companies that are run by a handful of people who are not living on the land involved.

Achievements

• He was a co-founder of Reforesting Scotland, a group dedicated to substantial reforestation.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Who Owns Scotland?

Membership

Wightman is a member of the Commission on Local Tax Reform. He is a member of the Scottish Green Party and is a candidate on the Lothians List in the 2016 Holyrood elections.