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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 3 October 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
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| Preceded by | Des Browne |
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| In office 28 June 2007 – 3 October 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Geoff Hoon |
| Succeeded by | Caroline Flint |
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| In office 2 November 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | John Hutton |
| Succeeded by | Hilary Armstrong |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Allan Stewart |
| Majority | 6,657 (14.0%) |
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| Born | 23 August 1967 Glasgow, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Claire Murphy |
| Children | 2 sons and a daughter |
| Residence | Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, UK |
| Religion | Roman Catholic[1] |
| Website | www.jimmurphymp.com |
James "Jim" Murphy (born 23 August 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a British Labour politician, who is the current Secretary of State for Scotland (since 3 October 2008) and has been Member of Parliament for East Renfrewshire (formerly known as 'Eastwood') since 1997
Prior to his elevation to Secretary of State, he served as Minister of State for Europe, appointed in June 2007, before which he served as Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform (from May 2006) and a number of other junior positions in Her Majesty's Government.
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Life
Murphy is married to wife Claire who is a primary school teacher. Together they have three young children. Murphy is a season ticket holder at Celtic Football Club and captains the Parliamentary Football Team.[2]
During his early years, Murphy was raised among three generations of his family in a two-bedroom flat in Arden, Glasgow. At the age of twelve, Murphy and his family emigrated to Cape Town, South Africa to escape the economic hardships of Scotland.[3]
Murphy returned to the UK at the age of eighteen to study Politics and European Law at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow where he worked as a waiter in order to fund his studies. During his time at university, he was elected President of the National Union of Students Scotland, the Scottish 'special region' organisation within the NUS, in 1992 and served a term of office until 1994.
In 1994, Murphy took a sabbatical from university to serve as the President of the National Union of Students, an office which he held from 1994-96, during which time he was a member of the National Organisation of Labour Students. After this period, he did not return to his studies and did not take a degree.[4]
Career
During Murphy's presidency in 1995, the NUS dropped its opposition to the abolition of the student grant in line with the Labour Party's policies. Subsequently he was condemned by a House of Commons Early Day Motion introduced by Ken Livingstone and signed by 17 Labour MPs for 'intolerant and dictatorial behaviour'.[5] The EDM also makes reference to his parliamentary ambitions.
Murphy ended his term of office with the NUS in 1996 and at the 1997 general election, he was unexpectedly elected as MP for the Eastwood constituency, winning the formerly safe Conservative seat with a majority of 3,236[6][7]
From 2000 to 2001, he was a member of the Public Accounts Committee, which oversees public expenditure. In March 2001, he was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Helen Liddell, the Secretary of State for Scotland.
At the 2001 general election he was re-elected as MP for Eastwood, with an increased majority of 9,141.[8]
In June 2002, he was appointed as a government whip, with responsibility for the Scotland Office, Scottish Group of Labour MPs and the Northern Ireland Office. His responsibilities were changed in November 2002 to cover the Department of Trade and Industry instead of the Northern Ireland Office, and in June 2003 to cover the Scotland Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Department for International Development.
For the 2005 general election, the Eastwood constituency was renamed East Renfrewshire, although the boundaries were unchanged. Murphy was re-elected with a majority of 6657[9] and promoted to ministerial rank as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Cabinet Office. His responsibilities included e-government, better regulation and public service modernisation.
He was promoted in May 2006 to Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, with responsibilities including employment, welfare reform and child poverty. In June 2007, he was appointed Minister of State for Europe.
In an October 2008 cabinet reshuffle, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Murphy as Secretary of State for Scotland.
Labour Party Groups
As a Government Minister, Murphy's membership of these groups is suspended in line with the Ministerial Code.
- Vice Chair Labour’s Departmental Treasury Committee (1997 - 2001)
- Vice Chair Labour’s Departmental Culture, Media and Sport Committee (1997 - 2001)
- Member of Labour’s Northern Ireland Committee
- Chair Labour Friends of Israel (2000-2002)
Notes and references
- ^ Guardian (2007-06-29): Profile: Jim Murphy
- ^ "Jim Murphy Bio". http://www.jimmurphymp.com/. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ "Jim Murphy Interview". http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/features_details.cfm?News_id=27248. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
- ^ http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/11/16/scottish-secretary-jim-murphy-on-how-tough-childhood-fuelled-his-political-passion-78057-20898611/
- ^ Early day motion 991, 1995 - 1996 Session
- ^ "UK general election result, May 1997: Eastwood". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/constit/613.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- ^ http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/11/16/scottish-secretary-jim-murphy-on-how-tough-childhood-fuelled-his-political-passion-78057-20898611/
- ^ "UK general election result, June 2001: Eastwood". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/constit/613.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- ^ "UK general election result, May 2005: Eastwood". Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources. http://www.psr.keele.ac.uk/area/uk/ge05/i16.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- "Jim Murphy MP". Guardian Unlimited Politics. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-3796,00.html. Retrieved 2006-05-09.
- "Jim Murphy MP career". Guardian Unlimited Politics. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/parliament/0,,-3796,00.html. Retrieved 2006-05-09.
- "Jim Murphy Profile". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/725.stm. Retrieved 2006-05-09.
- "Jim Murphy Interview". Public Finance. http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/features_details.cfm?News_id=27248. Retrieved 2006-05-09.
- "Jim Murphy MP Bio". Jim Murphy MP. http://www.jimmurphymp.com. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
External links
- Jim Murphy MP official site
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Jim Murphy MP official profile
- Jim Murphy's Welfare Reform and Child Poverty blog comment on welfare reform and child poverty related issues
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask aristotle: Jim Murphy MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Jim Murphy MP
- BBC News - Jim Murphy profile 10 February 2005
- SourceWatch -Jim Murphy MP - a fully referenced profile
| Non-profit organization positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lorna Fitzsimons |
President of the National Union of Students 1994–1996 |
Succeeded by Douglas Trainer |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Allan Stewart |
Member of Parliament for East Renfrewshire Eastwood (1997–2005) 1997–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by John Hutton |
Minister for the Cabinet Office Acting 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by Hilary Armstrong |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Acting 2005–2006 |
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| Preceded by Geoff Hoon |
Minister of State for Europe 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Caroline Flint |
| Preceded by Des Browne |
Secretary of State for Scotland 2008–present |
Incumbent |
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