Gordon Jackson QC to quit the law
20 Dec 05
Govan Labour MSP agrees to concentrate on parliamentary role
Gordon Jackson QC is to quit his legal career to concentrate on his role as MSP for Govan.
The MSP and leading criminal defence lawyer said yesterday that he would begin winding down his legal work, with the intention of ending it altogether by the summer of 2006. It is understood that he had been under pressure to leave from the Labour party, whose Scottish Executive declined to endorse him as a candidate for the 2007 Holyrood elections.
A decision was postponed following a request from Margaret Curran, Labour's Holyrood chief whip, who was concerned by his absences from the parliament.
First elected in 1999, Mr Jackson has previously promised to devote his time to the parliament, but last year he earned £243,000 in legal aid fees in addition to his £50,300 MSP salary.
Commenting on his decision, Donald Findlay QC said Mr Jackson was a considerable defence lawyer with a great intellect. Mr Findlay believed that people could combine two careers and forcing Mr Jackson to give up his legal career would not benefit the parliament.