Biography

Fred is an active local campaigner with a strong record of winning and a citywide profile. He has lived in the constituency for eighteen years and is married with three young children.

As a City Councillor Fred successfully campaigned to prevent the loss of playing fields and Crawfurd Road, ensured the long term future of the 24 bus route, proposed the new Business Parking Permit system introduced in Edinburgh in 2007 and helped bring together the deal that has led to the construction of the Conan Doyle Medical Centre at Cameron Toll.

Outside politics Fred is an Advocate in private practice here in Edinburgh. He was called to the Scottish Bar in July 2000 and mainly practices in the High Court of Justiciary sitting as an Appeal Court.

A double graduate of the University of Edinburgh (Geography in 1993 and Law in 1996) Fred was City Councillor for Newington Ward from 1999 to 2007 before standing down to focus on the General Election campaign.

In the 2005 General Election he took the Liberal Democrats from third to second in Midlothian and is a former Agent and Campaign Convenor for his colleague Mike Pringle MSP in Edinburgh South.

Fred joined the Lib Dems whilst studying at The University of Edinburgh and in 1993 started to campaign for better local services in what is now Newington Ward. He served on the Board of the Edinburgh Tram Company and was Convenor of the South Local Development Committee from 2003 to 2007.