Dave and his wife Veronica have lived in Inverness for 26 years. Before that they lived in Stornoway for 10 years after moving from their native Lossiemouth. They have four children and three grand-children.

Dave has fought three parliamentary elections, one for Westminster and two for the Ross, Skye and Inverness West Constituency in the 2003 and 2007 Holyrood elections, coming a close second to the LibDems last time. He was, however, subsequently elected as a Regional List Member for the Highlands and Islands in 2007.

Dave has offices in Dingwall and Edinburgh, see contact details, is a member of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee (since 2007) and a Depute party Whip. He is also on Cross Party Groups for Crofting, Gaelic, Palliative Care, CHD and Stroke, Co-ops, Nuclear Disarmament, Rural and Scots. He also served on the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee from 2007 to 2009.

Dave was formerly a Highland Council Director, Chairman of the Chartered Management Institute Highland, Chairman of GMB/MPO Highland, Chairman of the Scottish Society of Directors of Trading Standards and an Advisor to both the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the UK Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (LACOTS).

Veronica ran a Bed and Breakfast and then managed Thompson's Café in Inverness so Dave also has an intimate knowledge of the trials and tribulations of small business.

Dave is a member of Scottish CND, the Church of Scotland, is a life member of An Comunn Gàidhealach and the GMB.

Dave enjoys putting his experience at the service of the people of the Highlands and Islands as their MSP and will always put his constituents first.

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