14 Facts About Doug Naysmith

John Douglas Naysmith was a British Labour Co-operative politician who was the Member of Parliament for Bristol North West from 1997 until standing down at the 2010 general election.

Doug Naysmith was born in Musselburgh, Scotland, and attended the local Burgh School before attending the independent George Heriot's School in Edinburgh.

Doug Naysmith went on to study at the University of Edinburgh where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology before going on to complete a Doctorate in Immunology.

Doug Naysmith went on to research at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.

Doug Naysmith was elected to Bristol City Council in 1981 and remained a Council member until he stood down in 1998.

Doug Naysmith served as the Chairman of the Port of Bristol Authority from 1986 until 1991.

Doug Naysmith first stood for Parliament at the 1987 General Election for Cirencester and Tewkesbury, where he was defeated by the then Secretary of State for the Environment Nicholas Ridley.

Doug Naysmith contested Bristol North West at the 1992 General Election when he lost out by a margin of just 45 votes to the sitting Conservative MP, Michael Stern.

Doug Naysmith was elected to Parliament at the 1997 General Election defeating Stern by a substantial 11,382 votes.

Doug Naysmith took an active interest in health issues, was joint Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party Health Committee and was a member of many all party groups related to health matters.

Doug Naysmith was a long-standing member of the Socialist Health Association.

Doug Naysmith was a member of two select committees: Health and Regulatory Reform, and he campaigned successfully to persuade the Government to propose the comprehensive smoking ban which came into force in July 2007.

Doug Naysmith was Chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and secretary of the Parliamentary Universities Group.

Doug Naysmith was President of mental health charity The Dementia Care Trust.