Jim Hume MSP - Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for South Scotland
About Jim Hume
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for South Scotland
Jim visiting the home of the famous Border Biscuits in Lanark
Jim speaking to the young folk at Berwickshire High School
Jim visiting Heiton Village Hall during his campaign to help village halls
Born in Peebles and raised in Selkirkshire, I'm a real South of Scotland man, with my family roots in East Lothian, Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire. I'm a farmer by birth but I'm proud to say that my two sons now run the conservation minded family farm in Selkirkshire's Yarrow Valley.
It was a great privilege to be elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 and re-elected in 2011. During the ten years before being elected, I represented the community and engaged in public service through my work with the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, Scottish Enterprise Borders, Borders Forest Trust and the Borders Forum for Rural Sustainability. Until the 2007 election I was Chair of Environment and Land Use for the NFUS, a Director of NFUS and was also Chairman of Lothians and Borders NFU, looking after 1,300 members.
I was particularly active during the 2001 foot and mouth crisis and throughout my term of office in these posts I lobbied regularly against and with Ministers, MEPs, MSPs, MPs and Councillors. I also led delegations to the European Parliament, with successful presentations to Commissioners, all the while fighting for a better deal for the South of Scotland. And during my time with Scottish Enterprise Borders, I was involved in a small business scheme for the region in cooperation with Dumfries and Galloway which led to the South of Scotland Loans Scheme.
Parliamentary committees
Member of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Substitute Member of the Justice Committee
Cross Party Groups
Co-convener Cross Party Group on Food
Deputy Convener Cross Party Group Rural Policy
Co-convener Cross Party Group on Cooperatives
Member of Animal Welfare
Member of Cross Party Group Epilepsy
Member of Cross Party Group Waste Management
Member of Cross Party Group Palestine
Political Career
Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Housing and Health 2012 -
Scottish Liberal Democrat Deputy Whip 2012 -
Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Housing, Transport and Rural Development 2011 - 2012
Scottish Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Environment and Energy 2007 - 2011
Scottish Parliamentary Group's Spokesperson for Campaigns 2009