24 Facts About Christine Grahame

Christine Grahame is a Scottish politician who served as a Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament from 2016 to 2021.

Christine Grahame was the SNP's candidate for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale in the 1992 UK General election, but failed to win the seat.

Christine Grahame ran for Depute Leader of the Scottish National Party in the 2004 leadership election, but was defeated by Nicola Sturgeon.

Christine Grahame held the position alongside Linda Fabiani from 2016 until 2021.

Christine Grahame has served on the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body since May 2021.

Christine Grahame was born on 9 September 1944 in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, to a Scottish father and English mother.

Christine Grahame was brought up in Edinburgh, attending Boroughmuir High School.

Christine Grahame attained a Scottish Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1965 and gained her Diploma of Education from Moray House College of Education in 1966.

Christine Grahame later divorced and reverted to her maiden name.

Christine Grahame contested Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale at the 2003 and 2007 elections, coming within 1,000 votes of victory on both occasions and being subsequently elected on the regional South of Scotland list.

In 2004, Christine Grahame ran as a candidate for deputy leadership of the SNP after deputy leader Roseanna Cunningham entered the contest to replace leader John Swinney.

Christine Grahame was re-elected as Convener of the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare.

Christine Grahame has served on the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body since May 2021.

Since entering the Scottish Parliament in 1999 Christine Grahame has picked up a number of causes, notably;.

Christine Grahame continued to campaign for this for a number of years, with the line eventually opening between Edinburgh and Tweedbank in 2015.

In late 2015 Christine Grahame became involved in a public dispute with Scottish Borders Council over the siting of the Great Tapestry of Scotland in the constituency.

Christine Grahame favoured siting the tapestry in a disused building in Galashiels arguing that that option had more potential to regenerate the area and encourage tourists to access transport links from Galashiels to the wider region.

In June 2016 one councillor resigned from the SNP over Christine Grahame's intervention, claiming it represented a "lack of support" for SNP councillors and that he had not voted for her in the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections.

Christine Grahame has been outspoken in her view that the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing is unsafe and represents a miscarriage of justice.

Christine Grahame did tell me things I can't discuss with you.

Christine Grahame has lodged several questions and motions on this in the Scottish Parliament and continues to be involved with campaign groups on the matter.

Christine Grahame is a supporter of the political organisation Republic, a campaign to replace the British Monarchy with an elected head of state.

In July 2009, Christine Grahame snubbed Elizabeth II by checking her e-mails rather than attending the royal speech at Holyrood to mark the tenth anniversary of Scottish devolution.

Christine Grahame has stated previously she has a harmless neurological tremor, which is hereditary and can cause visible shaking.