Neil Gray

Background

Gray was born and brought up in Orkney, and was educated at Kirkwall Grammar School.

Career

Following his graduation, Gray was employed as a producer and reporter with British Broadcasting Corporation Radio Orkney from 2003 until 2008. He then worked as a press and research intern for the Scottish National Party parliamentary group at the Scottish Parliament for several months before being appointed as constituency office manager for Alex Neil Managing Successful Programmes - a position he held until his election to Parliament. Outside politics Gray was formerly a keen athlete, representing Scotland at 400m, until a serious knee injury ended his career in athletics.

Achievements

• The selection process for the Airdrie Scottish National Party candidacy, which Neil Gray ultimately won, was not without controversy.

Politics

He graduated from the University of Stirling in 2008 with a first-class Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in politics and journalism. Former diplomat Craig Murray was nominated as a potential candidate at an Airdrie Branch meeting but did not make the final list as he failed Scottish National Party candidate vetting, whereupon he commented that "I think in both Airdrie & Shotts and in Falkirk it"s evident who the party hierarchy wants to be the candidate." Former Policeman and Scottish National Party Councillor Alan Beveridge resigned from the party in February 2015 after Neil Gray was selected, claiming that there was a "climate of fear, intimidation and false allegations within the party" which were highlighted in the selection process.

Membership

56th United Kingdom Parliament]

He has been the Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Airdrie & Shotts since the general election in May 2015.