John Barrett (Scottish politician)

John Barrett (born 11 February 1954) is a Scottish Liberal Democrat politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh West from 2001 to 2010.

Barrett was educated at Tynecastle High School in Edinburgh. Prior to entering politics, he worked in the tourism industry.

In the 2001 general election, Barrett won the Edinburgh West constituency from the Labour Party, overturning a significant Labour majority. He served as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Work and Pensions. During his time in Parliament, he was a prominent campaigner on issues such as fuel poverty and disability rights.

In the 2010 general election, Barrett lost his seat to the Conservative candidate, Michelle Thomson. Since leaving Parliament, he has remained active in public life.

Barrett served on several parliamentary committees during his tenure, focusing on social security and welfare issues. He was also involved in cross-party initiatives aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people in Scotland and across the UK.