Donald Cameron (Scottish politician)

Donald Cameron (Scottish politician)
Donald Andrew John Cameron of Lochiel MSP (born 26 November 1976) is a Scottish Conservative politician, who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Highlands and Islands region since 2016. He currently serves as the Scottish Conservative's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture since May 2021.
In October 2023, he succeeded his father as the 28th Lochiel (i.e. hereditary chief) of Clan Cameron.
Background
Donald Cameron was born in St Mary's Hospital, London on 26 November 1976, as the son of Donald Angus Cameron, Master of Lochiel—later Chief of Clan Cameron—and Lady Cecil Cameron (née Kerr), daughter of Lord Lothian. He was educated at Harrow School and graduated with a first-class honours degree in modern history from Oriel College, Oxford and a Diploma in Law from City, University of London.
He worked as an advocate for 10 years before his election and acted for a range of clients in public, agricultural and crofting law.
Career
Cameron stood as the Scottish Conservative candidate in the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency, coming fourth in the 2010 general election; he came third contesting Orkney and Shetland in 2015.
In 2016, Cameron stood as a candidate at Argyll and Bute for the Scottish Parliament and finished third, but was subsequently elected as the Conservatives' third placed candidate on the Highlands and Islands regional list. He was appointed by the party as their 'Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport'.
In 2017, Cameron was appointed the Scottish Conservatives' 2021 Policy Co-ordinator.
In February 2020, Cameron was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance by the Scottish Conservative Leader Jackson Carlaw.
In August 2020, Cameron was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport by the new Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross. In May 2021, he was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.
Cameron helped re-establish the Cross Party Group on Health Inequalities and was one of three co-convenors of the group until May 2021. He remains a member of the group. He is Co-convenor of the Cross Party Group on MS and he is the vice-convenor of the Cross Party Group on Gàidhlig. He also sits on various other cross-party groups including those on Beer & Pubs and Crofting.
On 12 January 2022, Cameron joined his leader Ross in calling for Boris Johnson to resign as Conservative party leader and Prime Minister over the Westminster lockdown parties controversy along with a majority of Scottish Conservative MSPs.
Upon the death of his father in October 2023, he assumed the chiefship of Clan Cameron, becoming the 28th Lochiel.
Personal life
Cameron is married to Sarah Elizabeth MacIay, daughter of Hon. Angus Grenfell MacIay and thus a niece of Lord MacIay. They have four sons and a daughter.
Ancestry
References
External links
1976 births
Living people
People educated at Harrow School
Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford
Alumni of City, University of London
Conservative MSPs
Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021
Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026
Scottish people of Italian descent
Members of the Faculty of Advocates
People from Lochaber
Lords of Parliament in the Jacobite peerage
Donald
Scottish clan chiefs
Scottish Conservative parliamentary candidates