westminster parliamentary candidate

Grant Thoms (35) is the SNP Candidate for the Westminster seat in the Anniesland by-election. Born in Dundee, Grant attended Napier College (now Napier University) where he graduated with a hotel management degree in 1988. Grant lives in Glasgow.

Grant has worked in the private, public and voluntary sectors - starting as a hotel manager but moving to residential social work with exoffenders as his voluntary work experience influenced his desired career. In 1992, he became manager of the then Lothian Regional Council Employees Credit Union (now Capital Credit Union) before moving to Glasgow in 1998 to work for Community Enterprise in Strathclyde. In January of this year, Grant left CEiS to go freelance specialising in credit union and social economy development.

Grant has always had a keen interest in cooperative and voluntary sector affairs. He has served on the committees of a range of voluntary organisations including Social Firms Scotland, LETSlink Scotland, Capital Credit Union and Emmaus in Glasgow (a homelessness charity).

Politically' Grant's early involvement in politics began in trade unions having been a Treasurer of UNISON Lothian Region branch and a member of ACTS, the voluntary sector branch of T&GWU.

In April 1997, he joined the Scottish National Party and became involved in its branch activities, firstly in Leith and then in Hillhead. He is currently Secretary/Organiser of Hillhead Branch and Secretary/Political Education Officer of Kelvin Constituency Association. In 1999, Grant fought the Hillhead ward of Glasgow City Council and created the 4th most marginal ward after coming second by 150 votes. He is a member of the managing group for the Scottish Self Government College, an educational centre founded by the late Dr Allan Macartney.
"New Labour is wrong on pensions. The 75p a week insult to our pensioners is the final straw."
The Westminster Parliament is still vitally important in the governance of Scottish affairs. Although a proportion of its former responsibilities have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament, much of the power has been reserved by Westminster.

Reserved matters include:

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