User:FactorSpin/sandbox

Early life

 * Born in the Anderston district of Glasgow 11 July 1957 (age 54)


 * came from a crofting family


 * Both parents were Gaelic speakers from crofting families in Isle of Tiree, Inner Hebrides


 * lives in Cathcart, Glasgow

Glasgow City Council deputy leader


 * with her husband Labour Glasgow councillor and currently the Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council (responsible for the delivery of the Commonwealth Games on behalf of Glasgow) Archie Graham and two children, Fay and Colin


 * MSP for Glasgow Pollok (Scottish Parliament constituency) in South West Glasgow and includes the council wards of Greater Pollok (ward 3); Craigton (ward 4); and part of Govan (ward 5).


 * Hobbies: Country Music, running 10Ks and half marathons

is a Scottish Labour Co-operative party politician, long time local Labour party official and former school teacher.

kent rd schl, Woodside schl, Glasgow univ, jordanhill college, Strathclyde University, teacher, msp

1999/2003/2007/2011 election results

Education

 * Kent Road Primary School, Anderston, Glasgow
 * Woodside Secondary School, Woodside, Glasgow

Glasgow University

 * 1975-1978 : Glasgow University, MA (Hons) - studied English, History and Politics
 * involved in the Glasgow University Labour Club, National Organisation of Labour Students

Jordanhill College

 * 1978 Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow - trained as a secondary school teacher – Postgraduate teaching qualification in History and English
 * involved in the Labour Club and NUS and served on the College’s Board as a student representative.
 * Jordanhill College, National Committee of the National Organisation of Labour Students

Strathyclyde University

 * Strathclyde University, Certificate in Guidance

Secondary school teacher, 1979-1999

 * Joined EIS and was a classroom teacher for 20 years


 * 1) Rothesay Academy, Isle of Bute (Teacher of English and History)
 * 2) Albert Secondary School (later renamed Springburn Academy ), North Glasgow (Teacher of English and History)
 * 3) 1990-1999: Castlemilk High School, Glasgow Southside (Principal Teacher of Education Support, Education Social Work Project)

1975-1999

 * 1975 Joined Labour Party while at Glasgow University


 * 1984 - 1995 member, Scottish Executive Committee of the Labour Party


 * 1988: Chair of Glasgow Hillhead CLP attempted to deselect George Galloway MP while a member of Hillhead constituency Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour's deputy leader, said: "George Galloway fell in love with himself at an early age and has remained faithful ever since, but Iain Gray has more principles in his little finger than Mr Galloway could ever hope to possess."

He added: "Anyone who knows Iain knows he is a man of deep integrity steeped in the history of the Labour Party but tempered with the type of compassion Mr Galloway has no ability to understand."


 * 1991 Joined Co-operative Party


 * 1992 UK election: Ian Davidson's election agent when Labour won Glasgow Govan back from Jim Sillars of the SNP – the only non Labour marginal won in Scotland in the election of 1992.


 * 1993 – 1994 Chairperson of the Scottish Labour Party


 * 1996: Chair of Glasgow Govan CLP.

MSP career, 1999-

 * 1999 - Present MSP, Glasgow Pollok


 * (Oct)2004 - (Nov)2006 - Deputy Minister for Communities, Government of the 2nd Scottish Parliament


 * (Nov)2006 - (Mar)2007 - Deputy Minister for Justice, Government of the 2nd Scottish Parliament


 * 2007 - 2008 Shadow deputy spokesperson on Communities and Equalities.


 * led the revolt against her own government in order to support the SSP’s bill to abolish poindings and warrant sale


 * 2008 - 2011: Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Group in the Scottish Parliament and Chief of Staff to Iain Gray with special responsibility for Equalities


 * May 2011 - Dec 2011 - Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Party Leadership campaign, 2011

 * 2011 - Leadership support: Unison, Unite and GMB unions, Cathy Jamieson MP

"Central to my leadership campaign is a determination to address how we create a strong economy in Scotland, get people into work and make sure we do not leave anyone behind. A key part of that is our education system. We shouldn't be limiting ourselves to how we look in comparison with the rest of the UK. The big picture for all of us is how we compete with the rest of Europe and how we equip our young people for that."

Trade union membership

 * member of the EIS and TGWU Unite.