Malcolm Bruce

Malcolm Bruce is a well-known politician both within and out with the party.  He has been MP for Gordon since the 1983 General Election. He has been chair of the International Development Select Committee since 2005 and is also President of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Born in Birkenhead in 1944, Malcolm joined the Liberal Party at the age of 17. He graduated with honours in Economics and Political Science from the University of St Andrews, where he served as president of the Liberal Club.

Malcolm has had a varied professional life, including working as a trainee journalist for the Liverpool Post, a buyer for Boots the Chemists and a Research Officer for the North East Scotland Development Authority.  He later became co-founder and editor of Aberdeen Petroleum Publishing (1981-4). Between 1986 and 1989 he was the Rector of Dundee University and in 1995 he was called to the bar as a member of Gray's Inn, with a special interest in Company and European competition law.

In his political career, Malcolm first stood for election in 1974 for the constituency of North Angus and Mearns, and five years later contested West Aberdeenshire before being elected MP for Gordon in 1983. He has been his party's spokesperson on a number of subjects including, Scottish Affairs, Energy, Trade and Industry and the Treasury and was leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats between 1988 and 1992.  Malcolm was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Democrats in 1999 and chaired the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party from 1999 until 2001.

Barney Crockett

Barney Crockett, the Labour Party candidate for Gordon, is married with two children. He is a former secondary school head teacher and has been the Director of Grampian Racial Equality Council and Governor of Robert Gordon's University.

He is currently a councillor for Aberdeen City Council.

Ross Thomson

Ross Thomson is the Scottish Conservative Westminster candidate for the constituency of Gordon.

Ross hasbeen active in the Gordon Conservative Association since 2004 and has campaigned for our local MSP Nanette Milne. He was also involved in the University of Aberdeen Conservative Association, holding the post of Vice-Chairman from 2005-2008.

He attended Balmedie primary School, Bridge of Don Academy and graduated from the University of Aberdeen with First Class Honours in Politics and International Relations.He currently works as a Business Support Assistant in Financial Operations for Debenhams in Aberdeen.

Richard Thomson

Richard, 33, lives in Ellon. He is a former Head of Research for the SNP at Westminster and a former Head of Campaigns for the party.

Before entering politics, he worked for several years in the financial sector, latterly as an Account Manager with Scottish Widows plc.

He was educated at Tynecastle High School, Edinburgh, before graduating in History and Politics from the University of Stirling. He is presently studying part time for an MBA at the Edinburgh Business School.

Richard is a columnist for the 'Scots Independent' newspaper. A prolific writer on Scottish Affairs, he recently contributed a chapter to a book on post-devolution politics called 'Breaking Up Britain – Four Nations After a Union'.