Fred Mackintosh

Local resident Fred Mackintosh is the Liberal Democrat Prospective Westminster Parliamentary Candidate for Edinburgh South.

Fred Mackintosh brought together the parties to save Liberton Bank House as the new home for the Dunedin School

Edinburgh South is the ninth most marginal constituency in Britain. At the last general election the Liberal Democrats came within 405 votes of electing a Liberal Democrat MP for the constituency.

Fred Mackintosh is married to Angela, they have three children

Fred has lived in the constituency since he came to Edinburgh as a student in 1989. After graduation he stayed, trained as a solicitor and now practices as an Advocate. He is married to Angela, a doctor, and they live in Newington with their three children.

In the 90s Fred decided that he wanted to make a difference and campaigned to become the City Councillor for Newington. In 1999 to 2007 represented Newington on the City Council and gained a reputation and a strong advocate for his community. In May 2007 he stood down as a Councillor to focus his efforts on the upcoming General Election.

We need a change in Edinburgh South...

"As I speak to people across the constituency people tell me that Labour has let them down. They want a change." says Fred "People understand that throughout the banking crisis and on the key issues of climate change and civil liberties it is the Liberal Democrats who have led from the front."

Making a real difference in our community

Candidates should be judged by their actions. Fred Mackintosh has successfully campaigned to stop development on playing fields, is campaigning against more development on south Edinburgh's green belt and helped bring together the deal that has led to the construction of the Conan Doyle Medical Centre at Cameron Toll.

In 2008 he campaigned with Marchmont residents and businesses against Labour's decision to close Warrender Park Road Post Office. Despite well attended public meeting and a 3000 signature petition and hundreds of formal objection letters Royal Mail followed through on Labour's instructions and closed the post office.

As Newington Councillor Fred lead the push for more responsive street cleaning and recycling services as Convenor of the South Local Development Committee from 2003 to 2007. He helped protect the 24, 38, 42 bus routes and helped start the process that led to the creation of the 67 on Mayfield Road.

Making the case for Edinburgh South

Fred is a double graduate of Edinburgh University in Geography and Law. Outside politics he called to the Scottish Bar an Advocate in July 2000. In February 2010 he took leave of absence from the bar to focus on his campaign to become Edinburgh South's next MP. Until then his main area of practice was criminal law in the High Court of Justiciary and Sheriff Courts across Scotland.

Fred was a director of Transport Edinburgh Limited - Edinburgh's Trams company - from 2005 to 2007. He believes that Edinburgh needs a citywide tram network in order to maintain our city's prosperity without a collapse in air quality in the city centre.

In 2003 Fred led the campaign team that sucessfully elected his colleague Mike Pringle as the MSP for Edinburgh South with a majority of just 158 over Labour. In 2007 Mike was re-elected with a majority of 1929. In that election the Tories dropped from third to fourth place behind the SNP.

Part of our community

Fred is Convenor of the Meadows Festival Association.

Friends of the Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill.

Craigmillar Park Assocation.

Fred Mackintosh's CV

Fred and the Liberal Democrats have challenged Labour's gradual run down of the Post Office. This is Mayfield Road Sub Post Office; closed in 2004.

Employment

Member of the Faculty of Advocates, 2000 -

Trainee Solicitor, Dundas & Wilson CS, 1997-1999

Royal Naval Reserve, HMS Claverhouse, 1990-1994

Science Teacher, St James' Secondary School, Zongoro, Manicaland, Zimbabwe, 1989

Politics and Campaigning

Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Edinburgh South 2006 -

Parliamentary Candidate for Midlothian 2004 - 2005

Member, Scottish Liberal Democrat Party Policy Commitee

Treasurer, Edinburgh South Lib Dems 2004

Vice Convenor, Edinburgh South Lib Dems 2001 to 2004

Education

Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh, 1997

Batchelor of Laws, University of Edinburgh, 1996

MA (Hons) Geography, University of Edinburgh, 1993

Educated at Dulwich College, London SE21