John Loughton
Encyclopedia
John Loughton is a youth
worker, community activist
, charity supporter and a former chairperson
of the Scottish Youth Parliament
who became prominent when he appeared on and won the British reality show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
in 2008.
. He attended Inchview Primary School then onto Craigroyston Community High School. He then went on to study for an Honours degree, studying Politics and Social Policy at the University of Stirling
, before in 2007 committing fully when elected Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament
.
In 2008, Loughton became a contestant on Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
After Big Brother, Loughton continued to make regular media appearances and campaigned and promoted a range of issues including banning The Mosquito
device, ending child poverty, and calling for votes at 16. He also completed his term as the Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament
. Loughton obtained employment at the Scottish office of the youth work charity Fairbridge as its Policy and Communications Manager, going on to be promoted to Fairbridge UK's Head of Policy.
Loughton was appointed as Vice-Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Children and Young People in 2007-08, a member of the Scottish Literacy Commission and was also a Director of Youthlink Scotland, the national youth work agency. He served as a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution
, which recommended a number of new powers for the Scottish Parliament
.
then relayed a number of joking instructions to Loughton, which he followed, much to Lucas's amusement and his fellow contestants' incredulity.
in 2009 and supported their candidate, Kevin Lang, in the 2010 UK General Election in the constituency of Edinburgh North & Leith
where he is from. Loughton was elected to the Edinburgh North and Leith Executive group of his party, and wrote a chapter on "Building a Fairer Scotland" within a party publication entitled "Why Vote Lib Dem".
For the 2010 General Election, Loughton stood as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate in the East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow constituency. He got less than ten per cent of the votes cast, losing his deposit
and presiding over a swing against his party of 6.6%.
He then failed to be selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for the Edinburgh Central
constituency for the 2011 Scottish Parliament
election.
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
worker, community activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
, charity supporter and a former chairperson
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Scottish Youth Parliament
Scottish Youth Parliament
The Scottish Youth Parliament, also known as SYP, is a democratic, politically independent, inclusive, charity set up by a group of passionate youth workers as a national voice for young people in Scotland....
who became prominent when he appeared on and won the British reality show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack was an E4 temporary replacement to Celebrity Big Brother, a spin-off series of the British reality television programme Big Brother, airing on E4, with a number of closely associated programmes also airing on the same channel...
in 2008.
Biography
Loughton comes from North EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He attended Inchview Primary School then onto Craigroyston Community High School. He then went on to study for an Honours degree, studying Politics and Social Policy at the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
, before in 2007 committing fully when elected Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament
Scottish Youth Parliament
The Scottish Youth Parliament, also known as SYP, is a democratic, politically independent, inclusive, charity set up by a group of passionate youth workers as a national voice for young people in Scotland....
.
In 2008, Loughton became a contestant on Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack
Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack was an E4 temporary replacement to Celebrity Big Brother, a spin-off series of the British reality television programme Big Brother, airing on E4, with a number of closely associated programmes also airing on the same channel...
After Big Brother, Loughton continued to make regular media appearances and campaigned and promoted a range of issues including banning The Mosquito
The Mosquito
The Mosquito or Mosquito alarm is an electronic device, used to deter loitering by young people, which emits a sound with a very high frequency...
device, ending child poverty, and calling for votes at 16. He also completed his term as the Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament
Scottish Youth Parliament
The Scottish Youth Parliament, also known as SYP, is a democratic, politically independent, inclusive, charity set up by a group of passionate youth workers as a national voice for young people in Scotland....
. Loughton obtained employment at the Scottish office of the youth work charity Fairbridge as its Policy and Communications Manager, going on to be promoted to Fairbridge UK's Head of Policy.
Loughton was appointed as Vice-Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Children and Young People in 2007-08, a member of the Scottish Literacy Commission and was also a Director of Youthlink Scotland, the national youth work agency. He served as a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution
Commission on Scottish Devolution
The Commission on Scottish Devolution, also referred to as the Calman Commission, Scottish Parliament Commission or Review was established by an opposition Labour Party motion passed by the Scottish Parliament on 6 December 2007, with the support of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats...
, which recommended a number of new powers for the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
.
Big Brother Celebrity Hijack
Loughton appeared on the show following an approach from Endemol during a national search for Britain's most 'talented and inspirational' young people. He cites dispelling the negative stereotypes on young people in the media and galvanising interest in politics to a wider audience as the main reasons for appearing on the show. On the first day of the series, Loughton was given a hidden earpiece to wear, unbeknown to his fellow housemates. Comedian Matt LucasMatt Lucas
Matthew Richard "Matt" Lucas is an English comedian, screenwriter and actor best known for his acclaimed work with David Walliams in the television show Little Britain; as well as for his portrayals of the scorekeeping baby George Dawes in the comedy panel game Shooting Stars, Tweedledee and...
then relayed a number of joking instructions to Loughton, which he followed, much to Lucas's amusement and his fellow contestants' incredulity.
Political career
Loughton rejoined the Scottish Liberal DemocratsScottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
in 2009 and supported their candidate, Kevin Lang, in the 2010 UK General Election in the constituency of Edinburgh North & Leith
Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh North and Leith is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom , first used in the 1997 general election. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
where he is from. Loughton was elected to the Edinburgh North and Leith Executive group of his party, and wrote a chapter on "Building a Fairer Scotland" within a party publication entitled "Why Vote Lib Dem".
For the 2010 General Election, Loughton stood as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate in the East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow constituency. He got less than ten per cent of the votes cast, losing his deposit
Deposit (politics)
A deposit is a sum of money that a candidate must pay in return for the right to stand for election to certain political offices, particularly seats in legislatures.-United Kingdom:...
and presiding over a swing against his party of 6.6%.
He then failed to be selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for the Edinburgh Central
Edinburgh Central (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh Central is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election...
constituency for the 2011 Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
election.
Activities
- Co-Founder, North Edinburgh Young People's Forum
- Director, North Edinburgh Trust
- 2004 Edinburgh Evening News Award winner for "Community Involvement"
- Represented the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to the European Union Presidency Summit - Finalist, Scottish Charity Champion of the Year award, 2008