Tom Laird

Tam Laird is a founding member and current leader of the Scottish Libertarian Party. Laird was an infantry soldier in the British Army, with which he served five years in Northern Ireland. Originally a member of the Scottish National Party (which he has been highly critical of) Laird is a life-long supporter of Scottish Independence a position endorsed by the Scottish Libertarian Party, his departure from the SNP was spurred on by what he saw as a change in emphasis within the party platform from a focus on Scottish Nationalism to a more conventional left-wing position. Tam has been a strong critic of Scotland's pandemic restrictions, and has taken a monarchist and pro-life position on other debates within Libertarianism.
Laird has described an early association with hard right politics, which he had become disenfranchised with by his late 20s. Laird is a regular contributor to the Scottish Liberty Podcast.
In 2016 Laird failed to win a parliamentary seat in Edinburgh Central. Laird also attempted to win election in a 2019 Edinburgh council by-election.