Having originally been elected as a councillor in Glasgow in 1961, Young became leader of Glasgow District Council in 1977, a role he held until 1980.
Scottish Parliament
Young was elected as an MSP for the West of Scotland region in 1999. At the time of his election he was 69, making him the second oldest MSP after Winnie Ewing of the Scottish National Party.
In the Scottish Parliament he was the Conservative group's Deputy Spokesman on Transport and Environment and was a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. He retired at the 2003 election.
Death
John Young died on 3 November 2011, at the age of 80. He was predeceased by his wife, Doris, and survived by one son, Peter.[2]