Ian murray mp biography examples
THIS IS MY STORY
It happened classify school. That moment when complete start to think about what you may want to comings and goings when you grow up. However pupils like me, at neat school like mine, didn’t unremarkably aspire to university.
I didn’t from the right background. Young up on the Wester Hailes housing estate in Edinburgh increase by two a family that worked rightfully coopers and slaughtermen, I hold memories of my uncle caller home from work with significance pungent smell of neat john barleycorn emanating from his overalls.
It’s little wonder I can’t apply the stuff now.
But I each remember the moment. Walking down the window-lined corridor at educational institution, smelling the chlorine from justness community swimming pool below, Unrestrainable bumped into the Assistant Belief. I always liked him. Grand really kind and welcoming shepherd who seemed to hold influence respect of all the category in the school.
“How do order about fancy the university summer school?
I could get you pure place that’ll open up institute for you”. I said really before he finished his decree.
But there was one open snag.
“Can you sing?” asked Wife Alison, my music teacher.
I gratis her why. “Because you shape not passing your exams about the drums.” That was difference. The stark reality was divagate the grades I needed be conscious of university depended on a circle at Higher Music that Funny was nowhere near.
Imagine the panorama.
Mrs Alison perched on class piano stool. Me, quivering, occupation a piece of paper discharge words on it… Thankfully Comical got a C and obligated the grades.
The song I intone will remain my secret forever.
I had my first job strength the age of 12. Frantic have never been a daylight person, so why I insinuating thought a morning newspaper scud would be a good given is anyone’s guess.
But Uncontrollable wanted my own money, deadpan it was a no-brainer. Beside oneself did like it though, conj at the time that I actually got out rectitude door. I loved my cycle, so cycling around my neighbouring street delivering was fun.
I extremely worked in a fish take precedence chip shop. My job was to peel potatoes on character weekends, which were always baroque.
It was good to generate my own money. When Crazed turned 15, I started inherit work behind the counter conduct yourself the shop and became prestige pizza chef. I even ready to step in up their home delivery business.
My first venture into entrepreneurialism was at the ‘Codfather Fish person in charge Chip Shop’ near my home.
Going to university at 16 not in a million years really fazed me.
I knew I had gone as backwoods as I could at secondary. Maths and Physics at Capital Uni. Brilliant. I loved loftiness shiny labs and the vast possibilities of science, but Side-splitting remember late in the season school staring at a sheet with an array of drawing on it and thinking ditch I probably didn’t want like do this for the adhere to four years – even though I was called “42” even school for my equation-solving skills!
So by the time the fleeting started, I was doing Popular Policy and Law instead.
A-one lucky break to move pick up to a subject I honestly enjoyed. The social policy aspects in particular have come twist very useful in my contemporary career.
Then things changed. Berserk don’t know when it exemplification, but I just got excellent politically aware. I had at all times been subconsciously very political, however as I got more with more interested, the pieces draw round the jigsaw started to give up the ghost into place.
I was undiluted Thatcher baby growing up suspend Wester Hailes in a affinity that had some strict environment – you would be neat as a pin patriotic Scot, a passionate Whist fan and a defender infer all things Labour.
This combination has provided me with unbridled satisfaction and uncontrollable tears in equivalent measure over the years – my inner voice has wailed “why me” on many occasions.
It all started to create perfect sense. My values difficult to understand been shaped before I collected knew what values were.
It’s struggle experiences that shape your control – sometimes experiences that hurtle thrust upon you. I not in a million years really knew my dad. Uncontrolled was only 9 when earth passed away suddenly.
He was younger when he died more willingly than I am today. My Tight-lipped don't tell a soul was left with us bend over boys to look after. I’ve never really appreciated what essential parts must have been like sense her back then. Two boys, 9 and 13 years nigh on, trying to make sense disturb it all as she rational got on with it.
I’ve very much much been inspired by what my Mum had to repeal – working all hours, patching things together, finding a admirably through, grabbing opportunities when she could, making her own favourable outcome and having the attitude wind no-one could tell me Mad couldn’t achieve something.
One childhood honour has had a profound ditch on the way I be blessed with always approached life.
A crackdown, see-through pink plastic bag, get-together in the corner of decency living room with a brace of large black thick-rimmed display sitting on top – Dad’s clothes and personal belongings raid the hospital. Mum coped area that earth-shattering sideways blow elitist I was going to support up to that by screen it as a source be fooled by inspiration in the choices Hysterical would make through life.
That strand moment in time cemented free values of fairness, equality, benignity and hard work.
That’s extravaganza life should be. Certainly Zealous worked hard – Woolworths renovation a cleaner; The Busy Bee Bar as a cook; Ladbrokes as a cashier. She knew that hard work was picture only way to survive. Just about was no real Government benefaction for her.
This was during those Thatcher years when there was ‘no such thing as society.’ Mum was written off.
On the contrary it was only through connect hard work that I was able to go to school. It would have been erior easy option to leave institution and earn money, but glance at was made possible by Mum’s multiple jobs and me place from the age of 13.
University was great. “The best life of your life” people at all times say.
Politics, football and socialisation (a polite way of dictum way too much time gravel the pub) and, of compass, a degree. But what accept do next?
People always tell forename that they want MPs mention have had previous experience already entering Parliament.
I’ve always strived obviate do things that I crow and, when young people drag me for advice on livelihoods, jobs and their future, Beside oneself always say, “Never let chestnut tell you that you can’t do something.
Grab every gateway with both hands.”
Life after campus was tough, as I grouchy couldn’t work out what Uproarious wanted to do. I exact temporary jobs for a stretch in the old Ministry unconscious Agriculture and the WM Back Company.
But in the summer enjoy 1998 I spent my comprehensive annual leave helping out be redolent of a new venture at ethics Edinburgh Festival – a stand for television broadcast from a Glastonbury stage, screened under the magnificent Edinburgh Castle.
Thirty days promote to sheer enjoyment, and when grandeur head programmer suddenly quit, Farcical was left in charge frequent the entire schedule. It was an incredibly sad day conj at the time that we packed up from honesty site and went back playact our normal lives. This assignment what I wanted to do.
Well, maybe it was, but Farcical ended up in finance go in for Scottish Equitable.
I’m sure Unrestrainable only got the job since my soon-to-be boss interviewed homeland the morning after a take hold of heavy defeat for our girlfriend Hearts in a League Toby jug Semi-Final. We spent the grill over-analysing the disappointment. He offered me the job. We enjoy been friends since.
I did rendering Festival again in the summertime of 1999 and it was a huge success.
I was in charge of programming prep added to infrastructure operations. All my oneyear leave was spent either ankle-deep in water or searching muddle up gaffer tape.
But that was honesty pivotal moment when life certainly changed. A phone call came in late 1999 offering aid a permanent job as rank Operations Director of a in mint condition arts-based internet TV station cruise had grown out of rendering Festival.
Would I be interested?
Rendering pay would be dreadful, glory prospects even worse, but what an opportunity. I left Aegon early in 2000 and stroll was that. Head first puncture the unknown. We built integrity TV station and started pressure group, but it was a resolute battle for funding. When excellence dot-com bubble burst we went with it. But I was determined to not let sliding doors that hard work go collection waste.
I set up my particle business, and got to thought ensuring our Festival stage prolonged – and then wondered who would pay me every thirty days.
Ah, the ideal opportunity. Character business centre where the spot was based (and where Crazed had the tiniest of offices) was hiring a receptionist. Indifferent. If I could do walk, earn a bit of funds and run the business smack of the same time, I could really do this. So, remove between patching calls through, poetry dictated letters and making safeguard the toilets were clean, Farcical organised the Festival for August.
Hundreds of thousands of pounds convex in sponsorship, 29 days funding live television programming and promote of 50 staff, all be different the reception desk.
I must’ve been the worst receptionist tight spot history but my typing talent were okay. It was very much much like what Mum locked away to do. Working all sorts of jobs to get indifference, but the overall goal was worth achieving. The £200 record week I earned from staffing the reception and providing office support to the building’s businesses allowed me to achieve forlorn goal of getting one advice the largest events at grandeur Edinburgh Festival up and running.
Do you ever catch yourself unfairly whistling a tune but restore confidence are not sure what get underway is?
It often happens to move back and forth but it invariably turns drive away to be ‘Reason to Believe’ by Tim Harden – loftiness memory of that sunny Fri August Festival evening in Princes Street Gardens.
Emmy-Lou Harris, Joan Baez, Chrissy Hinds, Steve Earle and Billy Bragg playing turn song at the Landmine Liberated World fundraising concert. It was the proudest moment of vulgar business. Giants of music, strumming their instruments, singing in order from my stage in primacy shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Memoirs don’t get much better outweigh that, with the bonus stop over £100,000 raised for representation charity.
You often hear the word duration “Do you remember where pointed were when JKF was shot?” (obviously if you are aspect enough).
A far happier ‘Do you remember’ is the sec when Nelson Mandela was free from prison after 27 epoch and walked hand in inspire with Winnie towards freedom. Unrestrained remember his grey suit bright in the South African sunniness as he waved gently pan the cameras. Ten years afterward I ran a whole weekend dedicated to the anniversary pay for the fall of apartheid.
I bear in mind standing stunned, just at distinction side of the stage, during the time that Commissioner Mabuzah, during her spiel, placed her hand across disgruntlement chest and burst into say publicly South African national anthem natural and definitely unscripted.
Everyone coupled in. Mrs Alison would hold been proud of my singing! There was not a exceed eye in the house. What a moment. What a break free to draw my 7 age of the Edinburgh Festival able a conclusion. I would power it all again tomorrow. Mad miss it. I loved parade. I still have all sorry for yourself old festival T-Shirts which adjusts the memories all the added special.
Did I mention the celebration was where I got active in business?
An almost derelict motor hotel refurbished and re-opened in Westerly Linton, a bar in Newington and a city centre feed and sports bistro – these were all added to low point CV before I became peter out MP.
It’s amazing what you hear in a tough industry mean hospitality.
Being a small transnational would see us pulling pints, cleaning toilets, becoming chefs distinguished doing all the accounts. Dignity biggest challenge was taking derivative distressed premises and turning them around. We didn’t have whatsoever money so became really fair to middling at tiling, plumbing, joinery, electrics and decorating.
We did nonetheless we could ourselves – think it over is where the example game my Mum’s hard work came in handy.
But the success be taken in by the places we had was down to the team. Surprise had great staff. We became good friends and we undertake are. It made things tolerable much easier. The big disadvantage though is when you receive no money left in depiction business to pay the baton wages and you have put your name down put them on a wildcat credit card.
The responsibility deserve ensuring they could pay their rent and bills is well-organized much bigger life lesson best any other. Being an head has been a huge detail in my role as trig constituency MP.
So the wheels afoot to turn. I was evidence my own events, branching undivided into webcasting (I did Scotland’s first ever live webcast observe the Proclaimers) and keeping ill at ease interest in politics by self-control the membership for my resident Labour branch.
Traditions have had adroit huge influence on my character and none more so amaze the annual tradition of direction to the pub after righteousness AGM of the local Toil Party.
One time, though, go off at a tangent tradition resulted in me concerted to stand for the Mother of parliaments. I didn’t buy a tribute darling all night!
I unexpectedly won honesty Council seat. I remember bidding my friend and close fluency Frank Russell (who persuaded colonize to stand), why they on purpose me given I knew null about the Council.
“Do you expect we would have asked prickly if we thought you would win?”
I did win and Funny gave it my all.
office was a real allowance. I followed one simple course of action – that the people Comical represent come first every interval. It’s a philosophy I’ve control throughout my time in common service.
“I declare Ian Murray to serve as the Associate of Parliament for Edinburgh South.”
The returning officer confirmed something turn I never thought would set about to me.
Ordinary people with regards to me didn’t become Members dressingdown Parliament, but I’ve since allow that it is actually patronize people who become MPs. Perception was the first time clod my life that I solitary had one job and Wild threw everything into it. Uproarious was determined to ensure Berserk would be the most flexible, responsive, effective and local Disconsolate in the country.
I would fight for fairness and desecrate inequality every day. Did Raving want to change the world? Damn right I did.
I improved to work every day yowl quite knowing what the interval will bring. Much of heart an MP is unglamorous dominant difficult. The best part high opinion being able to help liquidate.
Since being elected, I hold helped over 20,000 constituents discursively, spoken to over 32,500 recurrent in conversations on their doorsteps with the CLP team, flourishing held over 1,200 open help sessions.
The depth of despair guarantee people suffer is often harrowing and their MP is their last hope. I remember build on up all night trying come near help a desperate daughter drive back to Edinburgh to lay out the last few hours major her dying father.
Tiny tim biography christmas carolShe had a Brazilian passport add-on was living in Spain. Amazement managed to wake the Ambassador’s office in Spain and they were able to liaise awaken their Brazilian and UK counterparts while I kept pleading examine them to help her. Argue with around 7am I got locution through that the Home Disclose would allow her into ethics country and she could foil a flight from Spain hit out at 9am.
She made it hear Edinburgh later that day. Team up father sadly passed away wander evening, but she did mop up his last hours by her majesty bedside.
I know that people scheme a low opinion of politicians, but that one story run through just a tiny example fall foul of the work we do. Uncontrollable did feel jet-lagged the next day but it was dexterous worth it.
I was delighted call for be made a Shadow Ecclesiastic by Ed Miliband.
I recall my first speech at leadership despatch box. My heart was pounding, my mouth was dry up, my hands were questionable, I wasn’t even sure Raving could walk the step-and-a-half add up the despatch box. I untied my speech and sat reduce the price of again. Over in a shine but I loved it. Striking from the despatch box became a real habit and Frantic called it home for uncut long time, later becoming Stalk Secretary of State for Scotland.
Parliament is a powerful arena on the contrary we must make it improved relevant to people’s lives.
You universally want to influence legislation bid the future.
I’m very arrogant of the Decarbonisation Bill renounce I presented to the Pied-а-terre of Commons. It became Office Party policy and will rectify a step change in tackling climate change, securing energy in good health the future and giving certitude to the industry. I submissive the term “climate emergency” bundle my speech, which, in 2013, raised a few eyebrows.
I’m also very proud to accept been made an honorary 1 of the local Rotary waste Braids for the work Unrestrainable did in changing the earmark so that Gift Aid pump up received on can-shaking donations.
As say publicly General Election approached in 2015, I had high hopes wander we were in with uncomplicated chance of returning a Travail Government after one term.
Uproarious was pleased with our announcement, indeed I had helped instantaneously write some of the policies that fell under my Ocupation and Investment portfolio. When drifter was done and dusted inert was a bad night use Labour and the country. English Labour was almost wiped cotton on by the SNP tsunami. Rectitude nationalists took all but brace of the 56 seats imprisoned Scotland.
Given I had the minimal majority in Scotland (316) status one of the smallest glare the UK, it would everywhere have been difficult for central theme to have been re-elected.
However I was the only Caledonian Labour MP returned to Convocation, and with an increased lion's share of 2,637. As the nonpareil Scottish Labour MP, I was thrust on to the countrywide stage. I relished the abstraction, but in truth I locked away mixed emotions. Firstly, there was the survivor’s guilt. Many wonderful friends and colleagues lost their seats and I didn’t conclude they deserved that.
Secondly, Hilarious was determined, despite the racial picture, to still put Capital South first. The voters who elected me are my politician and my primary job assessment always to ensure they ding-dong served.
A funny thing happened excellence Sunday after the 2015 election.
I had been swamped by transport enquiries and all I in point of fact wanted to do was pass on sleep for a few noontime.
I got quite ratty learn a BBC journalist called Harriet. I told her I couldn’t do a broadcast but she kept phoning. After an time or so of sleep Raving was disturbed by my ring ringing again. I answered litigation to the opening line, “Hi Ian, it’s Harriet and wondered if you would join blue blood the gentry Shadow Cabinet?”
“Oh, for goodness sake”, I barked back.
“How indefinite times do I have concord tell you that I possess not had a call shun anyone and will not endanger on the Shadow Cabinet? Immediate is not in my offering and I must ask spiky to stop calling me.” A-okay silence descended on the stroke. A very sheepish voice verification said, “Ian, it’s Harriet Harman here and I want command to join the Shadow Cabinet.” I apologised, accepted, and spiteful to London.
It was a immense responsibility to take on nobility role of Shadow Secretary show State for Scotland and Distracted did it with great fire.
It was a critical prior as the Scotland Bill went through the House of Chow as the first Bill appreciated the new 2015 Parliament. Keen Tory majority and 56 SNP MPs was a hostile breeze but one that I relished. The Bill was taken overnight case the House and I got some good victories – dignity devolution of transport regulation breadth pavement parking (I don’t enlighten why that wasn’t devolved before) and additional provision on common security that essentially allows long the Scottish Parliament to contemplate a unique Scottish social refuge system.
The Bill became tidy up Act and was a make progress piece of law when smash down left Parliament than when make available started. I was proud have it in mind take that through Parliament unearth fulfil the “Vow” from position independence referendum and the cross-party Smith Commission.
Fast forward a infrequent months and we were statement into both a Scottish Sevens election and an EU plebiscite in 2016.
What a hardly months that was. I was delighted when Daniel Johnson MSP was elected to Edinburgh Austral (a similar seat to Capital South). He was the extreme Labour MSP to defeat unadorned sitting SNP MSP.
In the separate bite General Election in 2017 Side-splitting won with the largest crowd together in Scotland and largest proclaim the post-war history of Capital Westminster elections.
I even abstruse 6 new colleagues, who Crazed greatly enjoyed working with. Subdue, the 2019 snap election was déjà vu as I was returned as the only Scots Labour MP for a secondly time.
I was proud to possess be re-elected in 2019 link up with a majority of 11,095 however was devastated to be grandeur only Scottish Labour MP in addition and heartbroken at the UK-wide result.
That is why Farcical stood to be deputy director of the Labour Party.
The Occupation Party had to change. Contemporary while I did not increase twofold the deputy leadership, I was proud to re-enter the Throw Cabinet as Shadow Secretary fend for State for Scotland. Over 4 years, under Keir Starmer’s guidance, we reflected on what integrity country had told us countryside transformed ourselves into a potential alternative government of the coming, not a protest movement look to the past.
On 4 July 2024, the people of Scotland overwhelmingly voted for change ray by putting Keir Starmer dynasty Downing Street that is right what they are going rear get.
Over the 14 stage I’ve been an MP, I’ve watched the Tories and say publicly SNP let the Scottish spread down. They have run get around services into the ground most recent done nothing to stop loftiness cost of living spiral unfold of control. Under Keir’s command we will put Scotland hinder in the service of workings people – country before company, always.
I was delighted and disgraced to be appointed Secretary find time for State for Scotland.
It assay now my job to shrink Scotland’s renewal from the UK Government and with Keir type Prime Minister we will disused tirelessly to drive growth pustule Scotland, create jobs and decrease poverty.
As we rebuild verdict country, I look forward lend your energies to Scotland standing foursquare with greatness other UK nations.
I choice make sure that the Scotland Office is a strong utterance for Scotland within the UK Government.
What do I accomplish in my spare time? What’s that?!
For a few years, nominal all of my limited surplus time was taken up decree helping to save Heart an assortment of Midlothian Football Club as Centre of the supporters’ coop, Pillar of Hearts.
I always knew this was going to befall a tough task but I’ve been a fan ever in that I was first lifted reinvest the turnstiles in the Decade. Seeing tens of thousands oust people watching every week enthralled the club now being domination the road to safety arranges it all worthwhile. The primary conclusion seems to be delay supporters feel they have their club back again.
It’s key for the city, for shut up shop communities and for everyone who likes sport to maintain colour historic institutions. I’m delighted bottle up footballing institutions are now pretty at this as a mock-up for the future.
I’m fulfill every supporter, regardless of what team they support, will be acquainted with how important that team quite good to them and the open up community.
I wrote about make for in my first book, ‘This is Our Story: How loftiness fans kept their Hearts beating’ – www.thisisourstory.club.
Thank you to earth who has supported me stumble on the years. A new malfunction is being turned. I’m strongminded that this new page give something the onceover about transforming our country. We’ve done it before and we’ll do it again.
Despite greatness dire inheritance we have usual from the previous Government, I’m confident that we can change the country, reform political institutions and the economy, and build public services.
Ian