Background
SIMPSON, RICHARD was born on December 21, 1942 in Sioux City, Iowa, United States.
SIMPSON, RICHARD was born on December 21, 1942 in Sioux City, Iowa, United States.
Simpson was educated at Perth Academy, Trinity College Glenalmond, and the University of Edinburgh.
A General Practice and psychiatrist prior to his election, Doctor Simpson is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He was a founding member and Chair of the Strathcarron Hospice, Denny. Between 2003 and 2007 he worked within Addiction medicine, first within Glasgow then as Consultant Psychiatrist in charge of the Drug Addiction Team of West Lothian.
Simpson is the current Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health for the Labour Party.
Simpson"s campaigns include "Save Waterwatch", the undergrounding of the electricity line from Beauly to Denny and stop the running of night trains on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line. He was also central to the dropping of the Scottish National Party bid to allow local licensing boards to ban under 21 alcohol sales, stating that this would discriminate against young people who were responsible drinkers.
Simpson was elected in 1999 as the first Managing Successful Programmes for Ochil. He was made the deputy Justice minister when Jack McConnell became First Minister in 2001.
As a Minister, Doctor Simpson launched the Scotland"s People genealogy web page in 2002.
He resigned in November 2002 after allegedly using the words "fascist bastards" in connection with striking firefighters. Simpson was returned to the in 2007 as third on the Labour Regional list for Mid Scotland and Fife. At the election on 5 May 2011, he was once again returned to Holyrood as a regional Managing Successful Programmes for Mid Scotland and Fife.
Scottish Labour Party, Labour Party.
He is a member of Unite. He was also a former associate member of the British Association of Urological Surgeons and a member of the faculty"s working group on Prostate Cancer. In the 2007 parliament he was the Labour lead on the Health and Wellbeing Committee and also Company-Convener of the Cross-Party Groups in the on Drug and Alcohol Misuse and on Mental Health, and a Member of the Cross-Party Groups in the on Epilepsy, Golf, Palestine, Tobacco Control and Visual Impairment.
He admitted using the words but claimed that he was quoting a member of the public.
