Brian Adam

Brian Adam, who has died aged 64, was a biochemist by profession and the SNP's chief whip during his party's historic first term as a minority government. His modest, ecumenical style was crucial in keeping the Nationalist show on the road for more than five years in office.

Brian James Adam was born in Newmill, Banffshire, the son of James Pirie Adam and Isabel Adam (nee Geddes). He was educated at Keith Grammar School and the University of Aberdeen, where he obtained a BSc (Hons) in biochemistry and an MSc in clinical pharmacology.

He began his career with Glaxo in Montrose, where he was section leader at the QA Lab between 1970 and 1973. In parallel, he represented voluntary staff on Glaxo's works councils and took part in a strike lasting an hour on a Friday afternoon. He later described this as a major event in the context of the early 1970s, and for himself.

He continued his trade union activity at the NHS, acting as treasurer or secretary while working as a biochemist at Aberdeen's City Hospital. Impressed with the SNP's 1974 manifesto (written by Stephen Maxwell), he joined the party soon after, enduring teasing from Labour trade union colleagues as a result.

In 1975 he married Dorothy McKillip Mann, with whom he had four sons and a daughter. Naturally preoccupied with raising a large family, he did not begin his political career until 1988, when he was elected to Aberdeen District Council and began work at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

He served three terms as the councillor for Middlefield and Heathryfold on the District Council, and after 1995, on the City Council, leading the SNP group for much of that time. He contested Gordon at the 1992 General Election, came second to Malcolm Savidge in Aberdeen North five years later, and was beaten in the same constituency by Elaine Thomson in 1999.

Nevertheless, he won a seat in the Scottish Parliament via the north-east Scotland party list. In the first term he was the SNP's deputy business manager and deputy chief whip, while the debate over Section 28 (which banned the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools) tested his Mormon faith, although he did not relish the overlap between private faith and public politics.

He abstained in the Stage 1 debate on the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Bill, feeling that repeal alone was acceptable. But after safeguards were put in place he voted for the bill, even making a thoughtful speech in support. In essence, he felt it was not a priority for most Scots and the Scottish Executive had ended up dividing the country unnecessarily.

Having failed to win a constituency seat by only 398 votes in 1999, he captured Aberdeen North in 2003 by a similar margin. In the second Scottish Parliament he put his pharmaceutical knowledge to good use, tabling questions on the incidence of meningitis in Scotland, the possibility of adverse reactions to the meningitis C vaccine and the history of clinical trials for the vaccine.

On fishing, he supported a tie-up scheme for fishermen, and also proposed an early-warning system for votes in the chamber, like the division bell at Westminster, something eventually implemented. In late 2003 he was drafted in as convener of the Parliament's Standards Committee when Tricia Marwick (later presiding officer) felt too embattled to continue in the post.

His other shadow ministerial posts covered education, tourism and finance. On economics and most policy areas he was an orthodox Nationalist, but inclined to be more conservative on social issues. His professional background made him cynical about the case for legalising drugs, firmly believing cannabis was almost certainly a gateway to harder substance abuse.

A teetotal non-smoker who did not drink tea or coffee, colleagues respected his lack of ostentatiousness and ability to get things done behind the scenes. "In the chamber," as the Sunday Herald's Paul Hutcheon put it, "he's an absence rather than a presence, rarely the focus of attention, almost never causing a fuss."

He retained his constituency at the 2007 election with a majority of 3749, and was appointed the SNP's chief whip during a period of minority government and, following the 2011 election (when he retained the new seat of Aberdeen Donside with a majority of more than 7000), Minister for Parliamentary Business.

Ill health forced him to leave the Scottish Government in September 2012. SNP leader Alex Salmond paid tribute to his talents as chief whip, saying they had been absolutely essential to maintaining the Government in office and ensuring we progressed the SNP's legislative programme.

He died following a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, their five children and two grandchildren.