Elaine Murray

Elaine Murray
MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Dumfriesshire
Dumfries (1999-2011)
In office
6 May 1999 – 5 May 2016
Preceded by Constituency Created
Succeeded by Oliver Mundell
Majority 3,170 (9.9%)
Personal details
Born (1954-12-22) 22 December 1954
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Nationality British
Political party Scottish Labour Party
Residence Dumfries
Alma mater University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge
Occupation Member of the Scottish Parliament

Elaine Murray (born 22 December 1954, Hitchin, Hertfordshire) is a Scottish Labour politician, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfriesshire (previously Dumfries) since 1999. At the 1999, 2003 and 2007 elections, Dr Murray increased her percentage share of the vote. She is currently Shadow Minister for the Environment in the Scottish Parliament.[1]

Background

Murray was born in 1954 in Hertfordshire, where her Scottish parents lived at the time.[2] She was brought up in Edinburgh where she was a pupil at The Mary Erskine School[3] and obtained an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Edinburgh University and a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Cambridge.

After graduating from Cambridge, Murray first worked in scientific research and was from 1990 to 1993 was an associate lecturer for the Open University.[4] She also worked for Alex Smith, Member of the European Parliament.[4] In 1994 Murray was elected as a Councillor on Strathclyde Regional Council and in 1995 to South Ayrshire Council, where she was Convenor of Educational Services.[4]

Murray joined the Labour Party in 1983 and is a member of the Transport and General Workers Union. Murray lives in Dumfries and is married with three grownup children. Outside politics Murray enjoys reading, music, gardening, cooking and owning a horse.

Member of the Scottish Parliament

Murray was elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfries Constituency following the first Scottish Parliamentary elections in May 1999.[1] She was re-elected in May 2003 and then again in May 2007.

She was appointed Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport upon Jack McConnell becoming First Minister in 2001, a post she held until 2003.[1] She has been a member of a number of Committees in the Scottish Parliament, including holding the post of Deputy Convenor of the Finance Committee between 2007 to 2008. Under Wendy Alexander's leadership Dr Murray was Enterprise Spokesman[1] and upon election of Iain Gray as Leader of the Labour Group in the Scottish Parliament, she was appointed Shadow Minister for the Environment.[1] She is currently a member of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee as well as Convenor of the Cross Party Groups on Science and Technology and Civil Nuclear Energy. She is also Vice-Convenor of the Life Sciences and Animal Welfare Cross Party Groups.[1]

Scottish Labour Deputy Leadership bid

In September 2011 she announced her candidacy for the deputy leadership of the Scottish Labour Party.[5] She withdrew in early November after failing to gain enough nominations. She claimed she could have got the sufficient number of nominations but said it was clear the Deputy Leadership role would go to a Westminster MP.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Elaine Murray MSP". Democracy Live. BBC News. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  2. ↑ "Elaine Murray". Scottish Labour. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  3. ↑ (2014) School Details - Mary Erskine The Guide to Independent Schools, Retrieved 8 March 2014
  4. 1 2 3 "Dr Elaine Murray, MSP". Debrett's. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Elaine Murray to stand as Scottish Labour deputy leader". BBC News. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  6. ↑ http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/labour-deputy-leader-bid-ends-1.1133231

External links

Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
Constituency Created		 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfries
1999–2011 		Succeeded by
Constituency Abolished
Preceded by
Constituency Created		 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfriesshire
2011–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Office Created		 Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
2001–2003 		Succeeded by
Office Abolished
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