Michael McMahon (Scottish politician)

Michael Joseph McMahon (born 18 September 1961) is a Scottish Labour politician and former Member of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 until 2016. He was member for the former constituency of Hamilton North and Bellshill from 1999 until 2011, then for the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency from 2011 until 2016.

Michael McMahon
McMahon in 2011
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Uddingston and Bellshill
Hamilton North and Bellshill (1999–2011)
In office
6 May 1999 – 24 March 2016
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byRichard Lyle
Personal details
Born (1961-09-18) 18 September 1961
Political partyScottish Labour Party

Career

McMahon attended the co-educational, Roman Catholic Our Lady's High School, Motherwell from 1973 until 1977. After leaving school, he worked as a welder at Terex Equipment Ltd, Motherwell from 1977 until 1992. He had been a trade union activist since school, and was Chair of the Youth Committees for the GMB trade union and the Scottish Trades Union Congress. In the GMB, he was also the branch Equality Officer and a member of the Racial Advisory Committee.

Political positions and views

McMahon is a critic of the not proven verdict in Scottish law, unsuccessfully attempting to abolish the verdict in 2007.[1]

McMahon is a supporter of faith schools and has publicly defended them, claiming there is no evidence they contribute to sectarianism.[2]

Personal life

McMahon is married to Margaret, and together they have three children. He employed her as his parliamentary assistant and his daughter Siobhan McMahon as his parliamentary researcher, with the latter becoming an MSP herself in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.[3][4]

References
  1. "Plea for not proven abolition". BBC News. 28 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  2. "Catholic church fury as charity boss blames faith schools for sectarianism". HeraldScotland.
  3. Black, Andrew (27 November 2008). "Which MSPs are employing family?". BBC News. Retrieved 14 May 2011. Over in the Labour camp, it is a family affair for Hamilton North and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon, who pays wife Margaret and daughter Siobhan as parliamentary assistant and researcher respectively.
  4. "Hamilton News - Latest news updates, pictures, video, reaction - Daily Record". www.dailyrecord.co.uk.
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
New constituency		 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Uddingston and Bellshill
2011–2016		 Incumbent
New constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament for Hamilton North and Bellshill
1999–2011		 Constituency abolished
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