Press Release | 4 February 2008

Former MSP appointed policy director
of The Free Society

A FORMER member of the Scottish Parliament has been appointed policy director of The Free Society, a new campaign set up by the smokers' lobby group Forest to fight "excessive government interference in our daily lives".

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www.thefreesociety.org

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Brian Monteith, former MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, will advise on strategy and implementation, with special emphasis on ways to tackle what he calls "the bully state".

Writing on The Free Society's website, to be launched on Monday 4th February, Monteith says:

"Over the last 30 years politicians and campaigners have increasingly sought to restrict our freedom in areas such as smoking, eating, drinking and other lifestyle choices. Today, the idea of a benign nanny state in which nanny tries to shape our lives in our 'best' interests is history. The nanny state has become the bully state. 

"That's why this campaign is so important. It is long overdue and I look forward to helping it provide solace, inspiration, leadership and a generous helping of common sense and humour."

For eight years (1999-2007) Monteith was one of the Scottish Parliament's more outspoken and colourful members. He was Tory spokesman for education, culture and sport, and then finance and public service reform, before becoming an independent member in 2005. He was also Convenor of the Parliament's powerful Public Accounts (Audit) Committee for four years.

Educated in Edinburgh, he worked in public relations for 16 years before his election to the Scottish Parliament. His expertise covered beer, wines, ice cream and Indian foods. While an MSP he was Honorary President of the Parliamentary Pie Club.

In 2006 Monteith announced he would not stand again as an MSP, saying he "would rather return to commerce than be a one-man band swimming against the treacly tide of collectivism in the Scottish Parliament".

A former spokesman for Forest, Brian Monteith is vice-chairman of the English Speaking Union Scotland. He writes regularly for several newspapers and has a weekly column in the Edinburgh Evening News.

For further information contact 07071 766537