Joseph Martin FitzPatrick (born 1 April 1967) is a Scottish politician who has served as Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning since March 2023. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Dundee City West since the 2007. Prior to his Ministerial appointment, he was Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. He served as Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing from 2018 to until his resignation in 2020. He also served as Minister for Parliamentary Business from 2012 to 2018.
Early life, education and career
Joseph Martin FitzPatrick was born on 1 April 1967 in Dundee, Scotland. He attended Whitfield Primary School and Whitfield High School. He studied Forestry at Inverness College and worked for the Forestry Commission in Angus and Tillhill Forestry in ArgyIl.
He was elected President of Inverness College Students Association and was re-elected as the College's first Sabbatical President. He was elected to the National Executive of NUS in 1990 and was given specific responsibility for LGBT issues. He was later elected as the Area Convenor for the National Union of Students from1991 1992.
Before his election to the Scottish Parliament, FitzPatrick worked for Dundee SNP parliamentarians Shona Robison MSP and Stewart Hosie MP and was also a Dundee City Council member, SNP group whip and finance spokesperson.
Political career
Member of the Scottish Parliament
After being elected MSP for Dundee West, he was elected as the SNP Group Secretary in the Parliament and was a member of the Finance Committee and SNP substitute on the Health Committee. He was also the Parliamentary Liaison Officer to John Swinney MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth).
In 2007, FitzPatrick was elected to the SNP's National Executive Committee. In 2009 he co-ordinated the SNP's successful European Election Campaign.
In 2011, FitzPatrick was re-elected to the slightly enlarged Dundee City west seat with an increased majority and 57.6% of the vote. FitzPatrick went on to be appointed Convener of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee. He was Co-convener of the Cross Party Group on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and Convener of the Cross Party Group on Computer Games Technology.
In 2012, FitzPatrick introduced a Members' Bill to tackle parking on pavements, double parking and parking alongside kerbs which have been lowered for wheelchair users. FitzPatrick stated: "It is clear that the current situation, with complicated police enforcement, isn’t working. We need Scottish legislation that enables local authorities to take action against inconsiderate parking." FitzPatrick stated that the Bill aimed to help pedestrians.
FitzPatrick was appointed Minister for Parliamentary Business in September 2012. He introduced the Scottish Elections (Reduction of Voting Age) Bill in 2015. The legislation allowed British, Commonwealth or EU Citizens over the age of 16 to vote in Scottish Parliament and local council elections.
Those aged over 16 were first allowed to vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. 3.6 million people voted in the referendum. Over 100,000 were aged 16 to 17.
In a debate on 'Young Voters' in the Scottish Parliament on February 19, 2015, FitzPatrick stated: "...the referendum was a remarkable demonstration of democracy at its best, and it is right that the chamber both recognises and celebrates the impact that young people have had on politics and the opportunity that the extension of the franchise presents to our democracy."
FitzPatrick introduced The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016. The Act became law in April 2016 and sought to "increase public transparency about lobbying." On commending the Bill to Parliament, FitzPatrick stated: "The collaborative relationship between the Government, the Parliament and our stakeholders throughout the bill’s development is yet another example that supports the proud reputation of this Parliament and the Government for open engagement with civic Scotland."
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election FitzPatrick increased his majority once more, winning 54.2% of the vote. FitzPatrick was one of ten openly LGBT MSPs.
In June 2018, FitzPatrick was appointed Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing.