Michael attended Strathallan School in Perthshire until the family moved to the Borders in 1981. At Jedburgh Grammar School he became involved in politics and joined the local Liberals. He worked on Archy Kirkwood MP's first campaign in the 1983 general election before going to Edinburgh University. Graduating in 1987 with an honours degree in politics and modern history, he went to work as a researcher for Archy in the House of Commons.

After a year at Westminster, Michael joined Coopers & Lybrand in Edinburgh where he qualified as a Scottish chartered accountant and obtained a wide range of business experience over the following few years.

Following Sir David Steel’s retirement from the House of Commons at the 1997 general election, Michael retained the Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale seat (expanded to include Penicuik) for the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 1,489 over Labour. In the 2001 general election, his majority increased to 5,157, again over Labour.

Michael was appointed Deputy Foreign Affairs Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats in November 2001. In this role he focuses in particular on European and African affairs. For the past year he has also worked with colleagues at the Westminster Foundation for Democracy on projects in Africa and other parts of the world.

Before the last general election, he was the UK Transport spokesman in the party’s Shadow Cabinet. Prior to taking up this role, Michael was the Scottish spokesman on the economy and a member of the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee. He was the party’s campaign chairman for the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections, and retains this role for the 2003 elections. In October 2002 he was elected Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats

In the constituency Michael’s focus has been on the economic difficulties of the area, most notably in electronics, textiles, farming and tourism. Working with colleagues and local agencies, the campaigns have resulted in winning back Assisted Area Status for the region, and with it access to millions of pounds of government assistance, gaining over £20 million of European funding to secure and bring new jobs to the area and ensuring the first serious steps towards the return of a railway to the Borders.

Michael is 39 and lives in Innerleithen in the Borders. He is a keen supporter of local rugby teams and enjoys hill walking.

Filmography - Director
Sicko (2005) (announced)
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
"Awful Truth, The" (1999) TV Series
And Justice for All (1998)
Big One, The (1997)
TV Nation (1995) (V)
TV Nation 2 (1995) (V)
Canadian Bacon (1995)
"TV Nation" (1994) TV Series
Two Mikes Don't Make a Wright (1992) (segment "Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint")
Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint (1992) (TV)
Roger & Me (1989)

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