Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Lochiel
Donald Andrew John Cameron of Lochiel, Baron Cameron of Lochiel (born 26 November 1976), is a Scottish Conservative politician and Life Peer who served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland from February to July 2024.[1] He was elected a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the electoral region of the Highlands and Islands in 2016, serving the Conservative Shadow Cabinet in various roles before his elevation to the House of Lords in 2024.[2]
Lord Cameron succeeded his father as the 28th Lochiel, the hereditary chief of Clan Cameron, in 2023.[3]
Early life and education
[edit]Born in 1976 at St Mary's Hospital, London,[4] to Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, later 27th Lochiel, and Lady Cecil Cameron (née Kerr), daughter of Peter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian,[5] he was educated at Harrow School. Cameron then went up to read modern history at Oriel College, Oxford, graduating MA with first-class honours. After receiving a Diploma in Law from City University, on the Bar Vocational Course, Cameron was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 2005.[6][7]
Cameron worked as an advocate for ten years before being elected to parliament and acted for a range of clients in public, agricultural and crofting law.[8][9]
Political career
[edit]Cameron stood as the Scottish Conservative candidate in the UK Parliament constituency of Ross, Skye and Lochaber, coming fourth of seven candidates at the 2010 general election with 12.2 per cent of the vote;[8][10] he came third of the five candidates contesting Orkney and Shetland at the 2015 general election, with 8.9 per cent.[11]
At the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Cameron finished third in the constituency of Argyll and Bute, but was elected as the Conservatives' third-placed candidate on the Highlands and Islands regional list.[12] Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson nominated Cameron to be Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.[13][14]
The Scottish Conservatives' 2021 Policy Co-ordinator since 2017,[15] Cameron was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance by the Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw in February 2020,[16] and subsequently Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport by his successor Douglas Ross.[17] In May 2021, Cameron was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.[18]
Cameron helped re-establish the Cross-Party Group on Health Inequalities as one of its three co-convenors until May 2021. He was co-convenor of the Cross-Party Group on MS and the vice-convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Gàidhlig as well as sitting on various other cross-party groups, including those on beer and pubs and on crofting.
In 2022, Cameron joined Ross in calling for Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister over the Westminster lockdown parties controversy, along with a majority of Scottish Conservative MSPs.[19]
Upon the death of his father in October 2023, he succeeded to the chiefship of Clan Cameron, becoming the 28th Lochiel.[20]
Appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland in the Scotland Office on 9 February 2024,[21][22] Cameron resigned his Scottish parliamentary seat on the same day, being replaced by Tim Eagle as Conservative regional MSP for the Highlands and Islands.[23] He was created a Life Peer on 4 March 2024, taking the title of Baron Cameron of Lochiel, of Achnacarry in the County of Inverness,[2] and was introduced to the House of Lords on 5 March 2024, supported by his kinsmen, former Prime Minister David Cameron, Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, and Ewen Cameron, Baron Cameron of Dillington, a grandson of the 25th Cameron of Lochiel.[24]
Personal life
[edit]In 2009, Cameron married Sarah Elizabeth Maclay, only daughter of the Hon. Angus Grenfell Maclay and a niece of Joseph Maclay, 3rd Baron Maclay, DL.[6]
Lord and Lady Cameron have four sons and a daughter.[4][25]
Ancestry
[edit]| Ancestors of Donald Cameron, Baron Cameron of Lochiel |
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Coat of arms
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ www.gov.uk
- ^ a b "No. 64338". The London Gazette. 7 March 2024. p. 4630.
- ^ www.courtofthelordlyon.scot
- ^ a b Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (107th ed.). Burke's Peerage. p. 653. doi:10.5118/bpbk.2003 (inactive 12 July 2025). ISBN 978-0-9711966-2-9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link) - ^ McDonald, Sally (14 December 2021). "Lady Cecil Cameron: Reluctant aristocrat who shunned the whirl of high society to help children in the world's conflict zones on writing her debut novel at 73". The Sunday Post.
- ^ a b "Cameron, Donald Andrew John". Who's Who. A & C Black. 2023. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U287470. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Cameron, Donald. "Donald Cameron" (PDF). Murray Stable. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ a b "D. Cameron is Conservatives' man for Argyll and Bute (but not that one)". The Buteman. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Conservative candidate named". The Shetland Times. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "2010 General Election - Ross, Skye and Lochaber". Parliament.uk.
- ^ "2015 General Election - Orkney and Shetland". Parliament.uk.
- ^ "Election 2016: Highlands and Islands Scottish Parliament region". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
- ^ "Donald Cameron / Political Activities". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Ruth Davidson brings new Tory MSPs into Shadow Cabinet". The Daily Telegraph. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Shadow Cabinet reshuffle to 'put Sturgeon on notice'". Scottish Conservatives. 28 June 2017. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- ^ "Donald Cameron is Shadow Finance Secretary". Hebrides News. We Love Stornoway. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Macnab, Scott (11 August 2020). "Ruth Davidson in frontline comeback to lead Tory group at Holyrood". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
- ^ Hutcheon, Paul (20 May 2021). "Douglas Ross announces new Scottish Conservatives team after Shadow Cabinet reshuffle". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Green, Chris [@ChrisGreenNews] (12 January 2022). "Majority of Scottish Tories' 31 MSPs at Holyrood now openly calling for the Prime Minister to resign" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Scott, Fiona (23 October 2023). "Clan Cameron mourns death of its Chief". Oban Times. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Ministerial appointment: February 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Tory MSP Donald Cameron to take up House of Lords seat". BBC News. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Business Bulletin" (PDF). The Scottish Parliament. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Lords, House of (5 March 2024). "Introduction: Lord Cameron of Lochiel". parliament.uk.
- ^ Linklater, Magnus (3 March 2018). "Donald Cameron: 'I'm not ashamed of my background'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ www.courtofthelordlyon.scot
External links
[edit]- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Donald Cameron
- www.lochiel.net
- 1976 births
- Living people
- People from Lochaber
- Nobility from Highland (council area)
- People educated at Harrow School
- Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford
- Alumni of City, University of London
- Conservative MSPs
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021
- Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026
- Scottish people of Italian descent
- Members of the Faculty of Advocates
- Clan Cameron
- Scottish clan chiefs
- Lords of Parliament in the Jacobite peerage
- Members of the Middle Temple
- Conservative Party (UK) life peers
- Life peers created by Charles III
- Scottish Conservative parliamentary candidates