Bruce appointed to Privy Council

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 30th Jun 2006

Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

Downing Street has announced that The Queen has approved the Prime Minister's nomination of Malcolm Bruce, the Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon to Her Majesty's Privy Council.

Mr Bruce said:

"It is an honour to receive this award from Her Majesty. The appointment to the Privy Council is bestowed on senior Government ministers and opposition spokesman and those who have provided long-standing parliamentary service. As MP for Gordon for over 20 years I am delighted to have been granted this Parliamentary recognition which I particularly appreciate."

Background

There are about 500 Privy Counsellors, whose appointments are for life. Mr Bruce will now be titled "The Right Honourable" Malcolm Bruce MP.

Biography

• Malcolm Bruce was first elected MP for Gordon in June 1983.

• Mr Bruce has held a number of high profile Party spokesmanships in Parliament including Trade and Industry, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He was Treasury spokesman for the party for the five key years which spanned the end of the last Conservative Government, the 1997 election and the first years of the Labour Government.

• He has also served as a member of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee, the Trade and Industry Select Committee, the Committee for Standards and Privileges and the Treasury Select Committee.

• Mr Bruce is currently the Chair of the influential International Development Select Committee.

• He is a former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and is now President of the Scottish Party.

• He is only the 4th current Liberal Democrat MP to be appointed to the Privy Council and the first serving North East Liberal Democrat Parliamentarian.