Martin lives in Edinburgh with his wife Mei and son James

Early Life
Martin was born in Leith and grew up in Gilmerton, in the south of Edinburgh. He attended Broughton High School, where he first developed an interest in politics and debating. His passion quickly became evident, and by the age of 17 he was captain of the school’s debating team, leading them to compete at the World Championships.

University
Martin went on to study Economics at the University of Stirling. Alongside his studies, he worked for five years as a porter at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he was an active member of UNISON. His time at the hospital shaped his understanding of labour issues and public service, and in 2001 he formally joined the Labour Party.

Early Career
After university, Martin began his professional career in banking with HSBC, working first in Edinburgh before relocating to London. His career then took him to South East Asia, where he founded the Farringdon Group. Through this venture, he went on to establish several successful businesses, including Farringdon Asset Management—now one of the largest independent asset managers in Singapore—and ALGEBRA, the world’s first Sharia-compliant digital adviser.

Edinburgh Labour
Upon returning to Scotland, Martin became deeply involved in revitalising the Labour Party in Edinburgh. In 2022 he served as Vice Chair and Membership Officer for Edinburgh Central CLP, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the local organisation. He also contributed significantly to the party’s 2022 local election campaign, designing and building the campaign website. Martin is a founding member of the Edinburgh Policy Forum, an initiative created to develop forward-looking policy ideas for a 21st-century Labour Party.

Charity Work
In 2023, following the closure of Gorgie Farm, Martin helped establish the Save Gorgie Farm Forever campaign and was elected Chair. In this role, he has worked closely with stakeholders as part of a council-led effort to secure the future of the farm.

Beyond his work in Edinburgh, Martin is also committed to international conservation efforts. He is actively involved in rainforest restoration projects in Sumatra with the British charity Orangutan SOS, which seeks to protect some of the last remaining Sumatran rainforests—critical habitats for orangutans and other endangered species.