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Stephen Kerr

Stephen Kerr (born 1960) is a Scottish politician serving as a (MSP) for the Central Scotland region since 2021, representing the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Previously, he was elected as the for in the 2017 , holding the seat until 2019. Born in and raised on a council estate in , , Kerr attended Forfar Academy and graduated with an honours degree in business from the . Before entering politics, he worked in and marketing, eventually leading teams for across the , , and , and later as a self-employed in , , and public affairs. In the , Kerr serves as Deputy Party Spokesperson for and , and as a substitute member of the Committee, while participating in several cross-party groups including as convener of the Cross-Party Group on Credit Unions. Kerr's political focus includes advocating for a emphasis on domestic priorities, scrutiny of public spending, and maintaining the devolved nature of Holyrood's powers, reflecting his unionist stance as of Conservative of the Ltd. During his time as , he contributed to the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee, addressing economic and issues. He resides in with his wife and has four children.

Early life and background

Family origins and upbringing

Stephen Kerr was born in in 1960 and raised on a council estate in , . His father worked as a butcher for the local branch of the Co-operative, while his mother was employed as a shop assistant. Kerr grew up in a family that were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with his Welsh great-grandmother on his mother's side having converted the family nearly 120 years prior. He attended a local and Academy, leaving the latter at age 16 to undertake voluntary church service.

Education and formative influences

Kerr was born in on 26 September 1960 and raised on a council estate in , , where his father worked as a for the local and his mother as a shop assistant. He attended a local and Forfar Academy in but left formal schooling at age 16 without completing qualifications equivalent to contemporary entry standards. Following his departure from school, Kerr took employment as a junior in banking, gaining initial professional experience in a working-class environment that shaped his practical approach to and economic matters. A pivotal formative influence occurred during his late teenage years when, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he undertook a two-year voluntary service in , assigned by the church—an experience he later described as a significant cultural adjustment for a young man from rural in the , instilling values of , , and religious commitment that informed his lifelong emphasis on personal responsibility and family. Upon returning from , Kerr pursued higher education at the , from which he graduated with an in , marking a transition from early manual and clerical work to formal academic and entrepreneurial preparation. This delayed entry into university, combined with his pre-university experiences, underscored a non-traditional path emphasizing resilience and faith-driven motivation over conventional academic progression.

Pre-political career

Business ventures and professional roles

Kerr left Academy at age 16 and initially worked as a junior in banking. Following a two-year period of voluntary church service in and graduation with an honours degree in from the , Kerr pursued a career primarily in and . He served as sales director at Montague Lloyd Limited, a firm specializing in services, from April 2000 to May 2004. Immediately prior to his election as MP for in June 2017, Kerr headed sales teams for , an American multinational personal care corporation, managing operations across the , , and .

Community involvement and early

Prior to entering , Kerr demonstrated early political activism through involvement with the in . He contested the constituency as the Conservative candidate in the 2005 , receiving 11,193 votes (22.3% of the total), and again in the 2015 , where he polled 13,478 votes (24.8%). From June 2015 to June 2017, Kerr served as chairman of the and Conservative & Unionist Association, a role in which local reporting described him as a "committed community activist." Kerr's community engagement extended to his religious affiliations as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), where he served as a church in . In this capacity, he participated in local church activities and community support efforts, reflecting his long-term residence in the area since 1982. An incident in November 2016 highlighted his role when an individual was convicted for sending threatening messages targeting Kerr in his elder position, underscoring his visible community presence. His pre-parliamentary work also included assisting Conservative MEP Ian Duncan in , providing early exposure to European political advocacy aligned with Unionist principles. These activities laid the groundwork for his subsequent electoral success in , emphasizing organization and local engagement over formal non-partisan activism.

Entry into politics

Initial candidacy and party affiliation

Kerr joined the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party during his secondary school years at Forfar Academy in . His initial candidacy came in the , when he stood as the candidate for the constituency, challenging the incumbent Anne McGuire. Kerr, then a local businessman based in since 1982, emphasized his commitment to Unionism and economic growth in his campaign but finished third with approximately 16% of the vote. Kerr sought the seat again in the 2015 United Kingdom general election, again as the Conservative candidate for Stirling, where he polled 12,051 votes (23.1% of the total), placing second behind the SNP's Steven Paterson amid a surge in nationalist support following the 2014 independence referendum. This performance positioned him as a persistent Unionist voice in a competitive marginal seat.

2017 general election victory

Stephen Kerr was unanimously selected as the Conservative candidate for Stirling by the local association on 27 April 2017. The snap election, called by Prime Minister Theresa May on 18 April, followed the 2015 result where the Scottish National Party's Steven Paterson had secured the seat with a majority of 10,480 votes. Kerr's campaign emphasized local economic priorities, job creation, and cross-party collaboration to serve all constituents, amid a national Conservative push against SNP dominance in Scottish seats. The election occurred on 8 June 2017, with Stirling's result declared at 04:00 the following morning after a recount due to the tight margin. Kerr won with 18,291 votes (37.1%), narrowly defeating Paterson's 18,143 votes (36.8%) for a majority of 148 votes (0.3%). Labour's Chris Kane received 10,902 votes (22.1%), the Liberal Democrats' Wendy Chamberlain 1,683 votes (3.4%), and the Women's Equality Party's Kirstein Rummery 337 votes (0.7%). Turnout was 74.3% among an electorate of 66,415, with 49,356 valid votes cast. This victory marked a Conservative , contributing to the party's increase from one to 13 Scottish seats, reflecting a swing against the linked to voter concerns over and opposition to a second . Kerr described the night as one of "incredible drama," attributing the outcome to focused local campaigning and pledging to prioritize Stirling's economy as .

Parliamentary service

Tenure as MP for Stirling (2017–2019)

Kerr entered Parliament following his victory in the 2017 general election, where he secured 18,291 votes to the Scottish National Party candidate's 18,143, a margin of 148 votes in the Stirling constituency. As a backbench Conservative MP, he focused on advocating for local economic interests, including support for businesses and energy projects in central Scotland. He tabled an Early Day Motion on 7 October 2019 commending the University of Stirling and Forth Valley College for their collaborative research initiatives, highlighting their contributions to regional innovation. Throughout his tenure, Kerr submitted 147 written questions to government departments, with a notable emphasis on and Scottish enterprise. Examples include queries on the development of the Renewable Energy Plant on 19 March 2019, aimed at assessing progress on biofuels production at the local refinery, and the British Business Bank's lending to Scottish firms on 9 April 2019, seeking data on regional economic support. Other questions addressed national issues with Scottish implications, such as development on 18 April 2019 and plans for local energy distribution networks on 8 July 2019, reflecting concerns over infrastructure and net-zero transitions. Kerr participated in 469 divisions, generally aligning with the Conservative whip, including support for key Brexit-related legislation amid the 2017-2019 parliamentary sessions. He occasionally rebelled, such as on 18 July 2019 regarding matters. On , he voted against amendments to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill in July 2019 that proposed decriminalizing and legalizing in the province, positions in line with traditional Conservative reservations about devolved changes without local consensus. His representation emphasized Unionist principles, critiquing SNP governance on devolved matters like education and public services while prioritizing Stirling's connectivity and employment prospects. Kerr's term concluded on 6 November 2019 following the general election, in which the Conservative vote share in Stirling declined amid polarized debates over Brexit and Scottish independence.

Defeat in 2019 and transition to Holyrood

In the 2019 United Kingdom general election held on 12 December, Stephen Kerr lost his Stirling constituency seat to the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate Alyn Smith, who won with a majority of 9,259 votes. Kerr polled 17,641 votes, representing 33.5% of the vote share—a decline of 3.5 percentage points from his 2017 performance—amid broader setbacks for the Scottish Conservatives, who saw multiple seats flip to the SNP in a night marked by nationalist gains. Following his Westminster defeat, Kerr pivoted to contesting the Scottish Parliament, standing as a list candidate for the Central Scotland electoral region in the on 6 May. The secured five additional member seats in the region through the proportional list system, with Kerr elected as one of the representatives after being placed prominently on the party list. This marked his entry into Holyrood, where he has served as a (MSP) for Central Scotland since 2021.

Role as MSP for Central Scotland (2021–present)

Stephen Kerr was elected as a list () for the Central Scotland region in the May 6, 2021, election, representing the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. In this capacity, he has focused on scrutinizing government policies, particularly in and , while serving in opposition roles to hold the administration accountable. Kerr held the position of for the from May 21, 2021, to September 20, 2022, coordinating party strategy in the chamber, and served as First Minister's Questions (FMQ) reserve during that period. He was appointed for on September 20, 2022, succeeding Oliver Mundell, and continued in that role until June 28, 2023, advocating for reforms to address perceived failures in the Scottish Government's education policies. Currently, he acts as deputy for both and , emphasizing workforce development and economic incentives. In committee work, Kerr served as convener of the from June 23, 2021, to May 25, 2022, overseeing inquiries into schooling standards, shortages, and services. He also sat as a member of that committee intermittently in 2021 and from September 2022 to June 2023, and on the as a member from June 29, 2023, to March 28, 2024, and substitute earlier. More recently, he joined the Committee as a substitute member from November 6, 2024, to June 26, 2025. Kerr participates in multiple cross-party groups, including as convener of the Credit Unions group and deputy convener of the Skills group, facilitating bipartisan discussions on and vocational training. Kerr has actively engaged through parliamentary questions and , lodging written questions on topics such as college funding and the Tay Cities Region Deal as recently as October 3, 2025. His record aligns closely with Conservative positions, including support for the Right to Recovery (Scotland) Bill and opposition to aspects of the Planning and Infrastructure () Bill in late 2025 sessions. These contributions reflect his emphasis on scrutiny amid ongoing debates over devolved governance.

Political positions

Commitment to Unionism

Stephen Kerr has articulated a firm to maintaining the as a unified entity, positioning himself as an advocate for the through both parliamentary interventions and public advocacy. As a Scottish Conservative and Unionist , he has repeatedly emphasized the UK's status as a successful political , opposing efforts to prioritize over governance priorities. In a 2019 exchange at , Kerr praised the UK to then-Prime Minister as "the most successful the world has ever known," highlighting its historical achievements in response to independence pressures. This stance aligns with the Conservative Party's opposition to , as evidenced by Kerr's defense of the constituency—a often contested on Unionist grounds—in the 2017 general election and his candidacy there in 2026. Kerr has promoted proactive defenses of the Union, authoring a June 2021 piece on his website titled "Our Unity Runs Deep," which critiques the narratives and calls for "positive and uplifting arguments" to counter independence advocacy by focusing on shared benefits like and economic stability. He has accused the of diverting resources to constitutional obsessions, vowing as to compel focus on domestic issues such as public spending and service delivery rather than referendums. More recently, in September 2025, Kerr condemned an SNP-led Holyrood for pursuing an inquiry into legal mechanisms for an , describing it as a hijacking of parliamentary time that neglects voter priorities like and . In May 2025, he sharply rebutted a legal expert's testimony portraying as subordinate rather than an equal partner in the , reinforcing his view of the UK's voluntary and equitable framework. These positions underscore Kerr's strategy of framing Unionism not merely as resistance to but as a superior alternative grounded in practical outcomes and historical precedent.

Economic and fiscal conservatism

Stephen Kerr has consistently advocated for tax reductions as a core element of his economic philosophy, arguing that lower taxes incentivize work, investment, and growth while countering the disincentives created by high fiscal burdens. In April 2025, he wrote that "only the Scottish Conservatives in Falkirk and at Holyrood want to lower taxes, reduce the waste in the bloated public sector and tackle the out of control spending," positioning such measures as essential to alleviating economic pressures on households and businesses. His voting record in the Scottish Parliament reflects this stance, with consistent support for raising the income tax threshold to prevent low earners from entering higher tax brackets, a policy aligned with broader Conservative efforts to simplify and lighten the tax code. Kerr's fiscal conservatism extends to sharp criticism of public spending excesses, particularly under the () administrations, which he accuses of fiscal irresponsibility leading to deficits and inefficiency. In December 2023, he described an as "an SNP calamity! The worst in the history of the ," faulting it for unexplained cuts amid rising demands without addressing underlying waste. By August 2025, he highlighted how Scotland's was "sinking under the weight of overspending on welfare," echoing party calls to prioritize sustainable finances over expansive commitments that exacerbate deficits, as evidenced by Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures showing a £15.1 billion public spending gap in recent years. This approach underscores Kerr's emphasis on fiscal discipline, including scrutiny of budget processes to ensure ; in January 2025, he decried the limited parliamentary time allocated to debate a £60 billion spending plan, arguing it undermined effective oversight of taxpayer funds. He has also questioned economic narratives, labeling their independence-focused projections as "fantasy economics" that ignore the fiscal benefits of integration, such as shared trade and pooling of resources to manage deficits. Overall, Kerr's positions prioritize balanced budgets, reduced , and policies that align spending with realities over expansionary measures.

Education and public service critiques

Kerr has repeatedly criticized the () government's handling of , arguing that standards have declined significantly since , with international assessments like the () showing record lows in , reading, and science performance as of 2023. He attributes this to policy failures under successive secretaries, including and , claiming the party prioritizes unattainable goals like eradicating over core improvements in educational outcomes. In parliamentary debates, Kerr has highlighted the 's education bills as inadequate for addressing systemic issues, such as in schools and insufficient support for high-ability learners, while advocating for enhanced whistleblower protections to safeguard educational integrity and public interest. On public services more broadly, Kerr has lambasted the for overseeing collapses in sectors like and justice, where he contends the system is "tough on victims and weak on criminals," exacerbating a and straining resources. He has accused the of secrecy, such as withholding early drafts of an report in 2022, which he views as undermining . Kerr's critiques extend to Holyrood's institutional weaknesses, describing the parliament as "sterile" and overly compliant with government directives, and proposing reforms like electing committee chairs and eliminating "party hacks" to bolster scrutiny of delivery. These positions align with his emphasis on , prioritizing evidence-based improvements over ideological targets.

Social conservatism and cultural issues

Kerr advocates for defined as the union between one man and one woman, a position he articulated in a December 2019 interview following his vote against extending to in June 2019. He similarly opposed the legalization of services in Northern Ireland during the same parliamentary session, citing the sanctity of unborn life and arguing that the matter should remain devolved to local authorities rather than imposed by . These stances reflect Kerr's broader commitment to ethical principles on family and human dignity, which he has described as foundational to conservative . In parliamentary debates and public statements, he has emphasized protecting parental rights in and resisting overreach into moral spheres, positioning such views against progressive expansions of government involvement in personal life choices. On cultural matters, Kerr has critiqued institutional biases toward progressive ideologies, particularly instances of suppressing dissenting opinions on topics like sex and gender , which he frames as essential for maintaining rational public discourse and evading . He has called for safeguarding freedom of expression in cultural institutions, arguing that taxpayer-funded bodies should not prioritize ideological conformity over empirical evidence or open inquiry.

Controversies and public debates

Comments on transgender issues

In April 2023, Kerr posted a tweet criticizing the Scottish National Party (SNP) government's handling of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, stating: "The SNP Government brought the chance to review the Gender Reform Bill and ask whether transgender people disproportionately have learning difficulties or autism. Instead, they rushed it through. Now we know the answer is yes." The post, deleted approximately 25 minutes after publication, prompted accusations of linking transgender identity with disability, leading Kerr to issue an apology in which he described the remark as "clumsily expressed" and unintended to cause offense to those with learning difficulties or autism. Kerr's comment referenced emerging evidence from clinical studies indicating higher prevalence of autism spectrum conditions among individuals with gender dysphoria, though the phrasing drew criticism for implying causation rather than correlation. Kerr has consistently opposed self-identification provisions in gender recognition legislation, aligning with the Scottish Conservative position against the 2022 Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which sought to eliminate the requirement for change. In December 2024, he attributed the "toxic" nature of debates to " behaviour" by supporters of the bill and related reforms, arguing that such tactics stifled open discussion. This stance reflects broader concerns Kerr has voiced about the implications of self-ID for women's single-sex spaces, placements, and sports, echoing veto by the government via Section 35 of the in January 2023 to protect reserved equality matters. In September 2025, Kerr questioned Holyrood officials on whether parliamentary passes accounted for individuals claiming "more than one ," prompting SNP accusations of "cynical time-wasting" amid debates on administrative recognition of identities. Kerr maintained the inquiry sought clarification on policy implementation, highlighting potential inconsistencies in official accommodations for claims without biological basis. In April 2025, he criticized figures for supporting the gender reform bill, linking it to ongoing policy reversals post-UK rulings on related quotas. These interventions underscore Kerr's emphasis on distinctions in public policy, prioritizing safeguards against unintended consequences over expansive self-declaration rights.

Challenge to Gaza funding decisions

In March 2024, Stephen Kerr publicly questioned Scottish Humza Yousaf's decision to allocate £250,000 of taxpayer funds to the Relief and Works Agency for Refugees () for humanitarian aid in , claiming it overrode official advice and raised concerns of a . Kerr argued that civil servants had recommended directing the funds to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) instead, but Yousaf intervened to prioritize UNRWA, an agency later scrutinized for alleged staff involvement in activities on October 7, 2023. He further highlighted potential bias due to Yousaf's wife, , having family members in with reported affiliations, suggesting this influenced the funding choice despite ministerial code requirements for . Yousaf dismissed Kerr's accusations as an "outrageous smear" and "ludicrous," denying any impropriety and framing the critique as politically motivated or potentially Islamophobic. In response, Kerr maintained there were "no regrets" for raising the issue, emphasizing for public spending amid UNRWA's controversies, including temporary halts by multiple donor nations over of employee-terrorist links. The exchange drew partisan reactions, with SNP figures calling for Kerr's deselection as a parliamentary candidate and Conservative supporters defending it as legitimate scrutiny of executive overreach. By July 2024, the decision faced formal review, with Kerr advocating for an investigation into whether Yousaf's actions complied with procurement and ethics guidelines, amid broader commitments totaling £1.3 million in Gaza-related aid.

Accusations of bias and interruptions in debates

Kerr has faced accusations from and Scottish Green politicians of employing disruptive interruptions and heckling tactics during debates, often directed at government ministers, which opponents claim undermine substantive discussion. In a June 8, 2021, debate on rural affairs, SNP MSP Jim Fairlie directly addressed and dismissed Kerr's heckles, highlighting the Central Scotland Conservative's vocal interjections as interruptions to the proceedings. On December 16, 2021, during First Minister's Questions and related briefings, Kerr repeatedly interrupted Public Health Minister , drawing criticism for contributing to a pattern of heckling MSPs; Scottish Green MSP subsequently raised parliamentary concerns about male opposition members, including Conservatives like Kerr, engaging in such behavior, which she described as disrespectful and gendered. These incidents reflect broader claims by pro-government sources that Kerr's style prioritizes partisan point-scoring over constructive scrutiny, though parliamentary rules permit interventions from opposition benches. In the March 26, 2024, debate on non-surgical cosmetic procedures, Kerr was accused of heckling Jenni Minto, with critics portraying his interjections as aggressive and dismissive of ministerial responses on safety regulations. Similarly, on , 2022, following Kate Forbes's resource spending review statement, Kerr interrupted to move a motion extending question time by 30 minutes under Standing Order 8.14.3, citing precedent; Presiding Officer rejected it as the duration had been pre-agreed by the Parliamentary Bureau (including Kerr's party representative), leading to jeers from benches and descriptions of the episode as a procedural . Accusations of in Kerr's debate contributions often stem from SNP claims that his interventions selectively emphasize government shortcomings while ignoring Conservative policy parallels, such as in performance critiques where he was accused of misstating attainment data during appearances. For instance, in a January 2021 exchange, Kerr asserted Scotland's had "deteriorated under the " and that taxes were higher than elsewhere in the UK, rebutted by ministers with data on rising pass rates (87.3% in 2021) and lower effective tax burdens; opponents, including The National (a pro-independence outlet with evident alignment), labeled these as deliberate reflecting anti-government prejudice rather than neutral analysis. Kerr's defenders, including Conservative colleagues, counter that such challenges exemplify rigorous opposition , not .

Personal life and beliefs

Family and relationships

Kerr has been married to Kerr since the early 1980s, having lived together in since 1982. She has been described by Kerr as his primary supporter during his political campaigns, which often require significant sacrifices. The couple has four children. Kerr was born to a Scottish father and an English mother, reflecting his personal ties to multiple parts of the . He has cited Welsh relatives and referenced a son and daughter-in-law in discussions of his background and commitment to unity. In June 2022, Kerr and his wife faced threats from a stalker who contacted them by phone from prison, including vows to harm Kerr and target a church congregation, prompting concerns for their safety.

Christian faith and its political implications

Stephen Kerr is a lifelong adherent of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Christian denomination commonly known as the Mormon Church. Born into a family of church members—tracing back to his great-grandmother's conversion around 120 years ago—he has characterized his faith as the "bedrock" of his personal and professional life, spanning his student years, business career, and entry into politics. As a young man, Kerr left school early to finance a two-year missionary service for the church in London, an experience he later described as "valuable" and formative. He remains an active member of the church's congregations in Stirling and Alloa. Kerr has consistently emphasized the separation of his religious convictions from his political decision-making, asserting that the church imparts no doctrinal predisposition toward specific ideologies such as , unionism, , or nationalism. This stance aligns with his broader political role within the , where he prioritizes empirical policy over theological mandates. Nonetheless, his underpins a commitment to individual liberty, particularly in matters of religious practice; he has stated that "to curtail the of another would go against my ," framing as a core Christian imperative. Politically, Kerr's beliefs manifest in advocacy for safeguarding religious freedoms amid Scotland's secularizing trends. He participates in the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on or Belief, which addresses protections for minority faiths. In 2021, he condemned abusive remarks targeting Catholic politician as an assault on religious expression, urging an apology and highlighting the need for consistent defense of faith-based public figures. Kerr has also welcomed church leaders, such as hosting a Latter-day Saint representative in the in September 2025 to discuss service and community values. Kerr has faced media scrutiny over his church's historical positions on issues like same-sex marriage and racial ordination policies, with some outlets linking his past publicity role for the UK church to these doctrines. He has rebutted such characterizations as politically opportunistic, arguing that attacks on his Mormon faith—such as sarcastic portrayals in The National newspaper in January 2019—employ double standards not applied to Islam, Catholicism, or Judaism, and serve to discredit his unionist views rather than engage substantive policy. In response to a 2022 stalking incident involving threats to massacre his church congregation, Kerr underscored the personal risks of visible faith in public life while reaffirming his resolve to uphold religious tolerance. These episodes illustrate how Kerr leverages his faith to champion equitable treatment of religions in political discourse, countering perceived biases against minority Christian groups.

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