Working for Govan and the Southside
GORDON JACKSON
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Govan
Born in the Ayrshire town of Saltcoats on 5th August 1948, Gordon Jackson obtained an law degree at the Dundee campus of St Andrews University.
From 1971 to 1979 he held a private practice as a Solicitor, being called to the Scottish Bar in 1979 to become an Advocate.
From 1987 to 1990 he was an Advocate Depute (Prosecutor) and in 1989 was called to the English Bar, making him one of the few lawyers who is both a Scottish Advocate and an English Barrister.
He took silk in 1990, making him a Queen's Counsel and became one of Scotland's top criminal defence lawyers.
Gordon (far right) and fellow MSPs Mike Watson (third left) and Robert Brown (third right) at a volunteer week event for Epilepsy Association of Scotland volunteersIt was in May 1999 that he took on a political career, becoming the first Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Govan constituency, seeing off a strong Nationalist challenge.
In the Scottish Parliament, his legal expertise has made him a voice that is widely listened to on Justice and Home Affairs issues.
He is currently Deputy Convener of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee.
In view of Govan's shipbuilding interest, he is Convener of the Cross Party Group on Shipbuilding.
He is also a member of the Cross Party Groups on Sport and Epilepsy.