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Sir Michael William Hirst (born 2 January 1946) is a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party politician, chartered accountant and public relations consultant.

A student of Glasgow Academy and the University of Glasgow, Hirst had a career as a chartered accountant before entering politics. He was elected Member of Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden at the 1983 general election, but lost the seat to Labour's Sam Galbraith at the 1987 election. Sir Michael was subsequently the President of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association.

He was unsuccessful in his bid to regain his old seat at the 1992 general election, the same year he was knighted. In 1997 he was forced to resign his position as Scottish Conservative Chairman and Westminster candidate for the seat of Eastwood, Renfrewshire in the wake of revelations about his private life.[1][2] Hirst joined Pagoda Public Relations in 1998 and was appointed chairman in 2000. He attained his MCIPR in 2003.[3]

He has two daughters and one son with his wife, Naomi Ferguson, whom he married in 1972. In his spare time he enjoys golf, hill walking, theatre and skiing. He is a member of the Carlton Club in London and the Western Club in Glasgow.

Career

• 1970: Qualified as a Chartered Accountant
• 1977-83 Partner in Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co
• 1979- Director Erskine Hospital Ltd
• 1983-92 Consultant for KPMG Peat Marwick
• 1983-87 Conservative Member of Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden
• 1985-87 Parliamentary Private Secretary Department of Energy
• 1986- Chair The Park School Education Trust
• Diabetes UK: Trustee 1988-, Honorary Secretary 1993-, Vice Chairman 1998-2001, Chairman 2001-
• 1989-92 President Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association 1989-92
• 1993-97 Chairman Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party 1993-97 (vice-chair 1987-89)
• Pagoda Public Relations: 1998-, Chairman 2000-
• 2002- Imperial Soc of Knights Bachelor (Chairman Scottish Division)
• 2003- MCIPR

References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons 1992
• Lexis Nexis

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