Getting to know you: Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP

So, you’re the newest MSP…

I think you’ll find that was Tom Mason. He took his oath after. Tom is 30 seconds newer than I am. 

Well, you’ve been in parliament before, as a researcher and stuff. What was your favourite job before becoming an MSP? Think carefully…

Working in politics in Scotland, both at the parliament and yes, at Holyrood magazine…

You saw where I was going with that?

Yes, I saw where you were going. I became a parliamentary aide and adviser in 2003 when the parliament was still relatively new, working for different MSPs in different regions with different interests. And when I came out of Parliament I was still involved through Holyrood and stuff. I made a lot of very good friends.

Aw.

Before that I was working in London and it was all more career-focused.

Holyrood editor Mandy Rhodes pointed out at our reception that you’d bucked the trend by lowering the Tory vote in the seat you were contesting to come third, but still managed to get elected on the list. Has anyone else teased you about that?

No, but I’m always very grateful to Mandy for her longstanding support for my political career. There’s been a few people who have commented. There’s still a lot of people who don’t understand how the system works in Scotland. It is a way a lot of people have come into parliament over the years…

You stuck it out.

It’s probably a good way of putting it.

Can you remember your first memory?

We were living in Oxfordshire because my father was working down there, and I remember getting very excited because the US F1-11s used to fly over our house and I’d rush out as a tiny toddler to watch them. It was really exciting. Then one day Concorde went over and it is a lot louder. For a three or four-year-old, it’s a frightening experience.

Did it ruin your love of planes?

No, I love planes! Having said that, having to land on Orkney sometimes in storms or gales and blizzards tests your love… The greatest fear is actually not the weather, it’s that tannoy announcement in the airport saying ‘your plane has gone technical’.

Technical?

It basically means there’s something wrong with the plane. They’re having to get another plane in. You’re going to be delayed. When you live on the islands it seems to happen a bit too often.

If you see a military jet pass over now does your bosom swell with pride?

I don’t know about swelling with pride, but I don’t think the kid in you ever goes away. My aunt’s house is in the Welsh valleys and the jets do low-level flying through the valleys. It’s quite exciting but you realise they have a more serious purpose.

What were you like at school?

I wasn’t always the best student academically but I kind of worked hard. I really liked sports and had a really good group of friends I’m still in touch with.

What did your report card say?

Not telling. The maths ones would have said could do better, the history ones would say ‘loves his history’. I’ve always been interesting in things, and if I don’t know I’ll go and find out, and that was particularly strong in history.

You’re still into sports aren’t you, playing rugby with the parliament rugby team?

I hadn’t played properly for about 15 years. I kept getting injured. I actually fractured my skull playing at school. But I was really keen to get back into it when I came into parliament. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet other politicians and represent the parliament as well. 

Isn’t rugby synonymous with bad behaviour though? Who’s the naughtiest in the Scottish Parliament team?

I am certainly not answering that Tom. What goes on tour stays on tour. No, the Scottish Parliament rugby team doesn’t have any worries with that, it does a good job of representing the parliament and Scottish politics. In the recent trip to Dublin everyone was well behaved. 

What’s the worst pain you’ve experienced?

I cut my foot open. I was on a beach in Orkney and there was a bit of glass or a shell or something and cut it open. It was a bit like the scene in Jaws because I looked down and there was all this blood in the water. In the local hospital they couldn’t seem to get the anaesthetic to work, so after three goes they just sewed it up. That hurt.

Guilty pleasure? 

I do like a curry now and again.

Yes, you do. 

You’re not allowed to use private knowledge in these things! 

You did just say it. What’s your favourite curry house in Scotland?

There’s two. When we used to drive to Orkney there was a curry house in Perth, I have no idea what it was called, but it was probably the first curries I ever had. They seemed amazing to me. In Edinburgh, Lancers in Stockbridge is very good. They’re the two places that stand out.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever had?

I met Findlay Calder the rugby player, Scotland and Lions captain, when I was really young in Orkney. He was up for some testimonial or something. I have this picture of him standing with me and my sister. Apart from the fact I’m double denim-ing, which dates it slightly, he signed it ‘to Jamie, stick in’. He was talking about rugby, but I think it’s a pretty good lesson for politics as well. Keep going if you believe and want to get involved, and hopefully it’ll work out. And it has. 

I think that’s pretty good advice for any young person, even if better advice might have been ‘don’t ever wear a denim jacket with denim jeans’. 

Your most treasured possession?

I’ve got my grandpa’s pen. My mother’s dad. When I was young he was always a really great storyteller and we’ve still got tapes of him telling stories. He just made up stories, about giants and things like that. This was a pen he used to write stories down and it’s that nice connection. Actually the tapes should be the treasured possession. I need to make sure to get them put on to a disc as well so we don’t lose it. That’s something I’ve got to do. 

What do you dislike about your appearance?

I could probably lose the odd pound. I used to play a lot of sports. As you get older you do less sport. I’m keen to make sure I get to the gym and enjoy these things a bit more again.

Dream dinner date?

One is pretty obvious, and that’s Margaret Thatcher. Then Thomas Telford. There’s so much he’d done and built. Someone with that kind of attitude I’ve always wanted to speak to. And my third one is a little bit frivolous. Kylie.

Oh.

I’ve been a big fan of Kylie. Couldn’t tell you what her music is like now but when I was at school she was a star and she’s still a star now. I just think that longevity is amazing. 

Would that not be a bit of an awkward conversation? What would Kylie talk to Thomas Telford about? 

I’m being a bit selfish here. These are the people I’d like to speak to. I’m not suggesting Kylie and Thomas Telford would then agree to catch up at a later date because they’ve got lots in common. 

How would you start the conversation?

How does every conversation start now? ‘What do you think of Donald Trump?’ 

What would Maggie make of Donald Trump?

She’d probably be very coy, but I don’t think she’d have much of an opinion of him. 

The last book you read?

I’m just reading a book about Catherine Swineford, the second wife of John of Gaunt. She was quite an influential lady in the medieval period. I love historical books. My next book is the Last Tsar, about Nicholas the second. I can’t remember who wrote it. I get very immersed, and polish them off very quickly.