Dennis Canavan
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Dennis Canavan (born 8 August 1942, Cowdenbeath) is a Scottish politician, and an independent member of the Scottish Parliament.
He was educated at St. Bride's and St. Columba's Schools, Cowdenbeath and Edinburgh University. He was a teacher, 1970-4.
He was leader, Labour Group, Stirling District Council in 1974. He was Labour member of the Westminster Parliament, for West Stirlingshire, 1974-83 and for Falkirk West, 1983-2001. He was Chair of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group, 1980-1.
In 1999, when elections for the first devolved Parliament were held, he was rejected as an official Labour candidate, and instead stood as an independent, and won. He was consequently expelled from the party. He resigned his Westminster seat in 2000. The by-election was won by Eric Joyce.
In the Scottish Parliament, he has been a member of the European and External Relations Committee and convener of the All-Party Sports Group since 1999.