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Aberdeen SNP MSP Brian Adam dies aged 64 | Aberdeen SNP MSP Brian Adam dies aged 64 |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Nationalist MSP for Aberdeen Donside, Brian Adam, has died at the age of 64 after a battle with cancer. | |
The trained biochemist served as a councillor in the north east of Scotland before being elected to the first Scottish Parliament in 1999. | The trained biochemist served as a councillor in the north east of Scotland before being elected to the first Scottish Parliament in 1999. |
Mr Adam, who was a Mormon and keen Aberdeen football fan, was briefly a minister for parliamentary business in Alex Salmond's second government. | Mr Adam, who was a Mormon and keen Aberdeen football fan, was briefly a minister for parliamentary business in Alex Salmond's second government. |
The death of the father-of-five will trigger a by-election in Aberdeen. | The death of the father-of-five will trigger a by-election in Aberdeen. |
In a statement, his family said: "Brian had a hard-fought battle with cancer, but passed away peacefully during the night at home. | |
"We would like to thank Brian's colleagues and constituents for their huge support over this challenging and sensitive period." | |
'Outstanding position' | |
First Minister Alex Salmond said Mr Adam had been an "exceptional" MSP. | |
The SNP leader said that as chief whip, Mr Adam had been one of the "crucial people" who sustained the minority SNP government between 2007 and 2011. | |
"Of course his greatest service was to the people of Aberdeen for a quarter of a century - first as a councillor and then as an MSP," Mr Salmond said. | |
"I'm proud to say I've known and admired him over that entire period as an outstanding politician, a fine human being and a dear friend. | |
"My condolences go to Brian's wife Dorothy and his five children - Neil, Jamie, Sarah, David and Alan - and the wider family at this very difficult time." | |
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie described Mr Adam as a "compassionate and decent man" who would be "dearly missed" at the Scottish parliament. | |
"We are all deeply saddened at the passing of Brian Adam, who served the parliament, his party and his community well," he said. | |
"With a career in science before politics, he was passionate about advancing the cause of science in parliament. | |
"Brian was a hard-working and conscientious MSP who had friends across the chamber at Holyrood." | |
The Labour MP for Aberdeen South, Dame Anne Begg, also paid tribute to the "hard working" MSP. | |
She said: "If you were to have a political opponent, Brian was the ideal one. He was always polite and charming. Although we were from different political parties, we got on well. | |
"Brian always worked hard for his constituents and continued to do so despite his obvious illness." | "Brian always worked hard for his constituents and continued to do so despite his obvious illness." |