A new consumer member, Thomas Docherty, has been appointed to the Scottish Civil Justice Council for a three-year term.  This appointment fills one of the two vacancies for consumer representative members to the Council.

Mr Docherty’s professional background is in press and public relations, in which he has had extensive experience.  He was Member of Parliament for five years from May 2010 to May 2015.

He is currently Head of Public Affairs, Nations and Regions at Which?.  He is responsible for leading on all engagement with key external audiences across the nations and regions of the UK, including establishing new relationships with external stakeholders in Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England.  He leads on work to position Which?  as a key consumer voice across governments and with key political influencers, with a brief to shape national and local government thinking on key consumer issues.  He also acts as primary spokesperson to devolved administrations, engaging directly with Ministers and parliamentary committees.  

He will take up his three-year post on 07 October 2019.

The Chair of the Council, the Lord President, Lord Carloway, said: “I would like to welcome Thomas to the Council and I am confident that the Council will benefit from his wealth of knowledge and expertise”.

The appointment was made by the Lord President following an open and competitive recruitment exercise in consultation with the Scottish Ministers.