Jeremy was born in Berwick in 1974 and when elected in the 2003 Parliament elections he was the youngest constituency MSP, elected aged 29. He was the Scottish Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesman and then Justice and Home Affairs spokesman. After the elections in May Jeremy was appointed the Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinest Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.

He quickly built a reputation as an effective constituency member as well as national politician and was the first MSP to develop the principle of Fiscal Federalism, giving the Scottish Parliament radically increased financial powers. Within the justice portfolio he led the political move towards recognising very short term prison sentences as ineffective and gained a high profile as a defender of civil liberties.

Within the constituency he has chalked up considerable campaign successes for improved public transport, most notably the Borders railway. He also secured the long term future of the School of Textiles and Design when it was proposed by Heriot Watt University to move it to Edinburgh. The new Borders campus project was recently launched with over £30 million of Scottish Executive investment. His other campaign successes have focussed on affordable housing and improved bus services.

He was first elected as the MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick & Lauderdale in May 2003. His father retired recently as an Ambulance Technician in Berwick and his mother is retired. Jeremy's family has always been based in the Borders. Jeremy went to school in Berwick and he then studied Politics and Modern History in London, graduating in 1996.

While at university Jeremy also worked for the ELDR (Liberal) Group in the European Parliament and Liberal International. On graduating, Jeremy worked full time for Sir David Steel in the House of Commons and then ran his office in the House of Lords. In 1998 he moved to Edinburgh to work for a parliamentary affairs company and in 2001 he established, with a fellow director, his own strategic communications consultancy, advising clients on communications.

Having been the youngest constituency MSP in the last session of Parliament he is committed to ensuring young people are more involved in politics and, together with his major campaign successes within the constituency, his reputation as "someone who gets things done" is secure.

Jeremy lives in Galashiels and is based in and committed to the Borders.