Sam Galbraith

For the Liberal MP from Durham, see Samuel Galbraith.

Sam Galbraith
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden
In office 6 May 1999 – 20 March 2001
Preceded by	New Parliament
Succeeded by	Brian Fitzpatrick
Member of the UK Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden
In office 11 June 1987 – 7 June 2001
Preceded by	Michael Hirst
Succeeded by	John Lyons
Personal details
Born	(1945-10-18) 18 October 1945 Clitheroe, Lancashire
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour

Samuel Laird "Sam" Galbraith (born 18 October 1945) is a Scottish Labour Party politician. He is a former Member of Parliament and a former Member of the Scottish Parliament.

At the 1987 general election, he was returned as Member of Parliament for the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency, and held the seat until standing down at the 2001 general election. He announced his resignation on 20 March 2001 due to reasons of health.

Galbraith served as Minister for Children and Education in the Scottish Executive under Donald Dewar from 1999 to 2000 and then, following the SQA exams controversy which was primarily his fault, as Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture under Henry McLeish until his resignation on 20 March 2001 from ministerial office and his parliamentary seats for health reasons. He had previously been a Scottish Office Minister between 1997 and 1999, and before that had been a respected neurosurgeon.

Galbraith received a lung transplant, in 1990, due to a genetic condition (the same condition which took the life of a sister).

Galbraith was born in Clitheroe, Lancashire. He attended Greenock High School and then Glasgow University, where he received honours in medicine. He is married, the father of three daughters. In prior years he was an avid mountaineer and a Boy Scout.