Ian Davidson (Scottish politician)
| Ian Davidson MP | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Jimmy Dunnachie |
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| Majority | 13,896 (44.9%) |
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Member of Parliament
for Glasgow Govan |
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| In office 9 April 1992 – 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Sillars |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Sarwar |
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| Born | 8 September 1950 Jedburgh |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Labour Co-operative |
| Alma mater | Galashiels Academy |
Ian Graham Davidson (born 8 September 1950) is a British Labour Co-operative politician, who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow South West since 2005. Davidson previously worked as a Community Service Manager and for Janey Buchan when she was a Member of the European Parliament.
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[edit] Political career
He is perhaps best known as the MP who during Commons question-time shouted "Who Cares?" when Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, asked the Foreign Secretary MS Beckett which discussed matters would be taken forward from the Joint Ministerial Committee on Europe, chaired by Ms Beckett and attended by Ms Fabiani.[1]
He has been an MP since 1992, originally for the seat of Glasgow Govan and, following boundary changes, for Glasgow Pollok from 1997 to 2005. After further major boundary changes across Scotland, Davidson stood in the 2005 general election for the new constituency of Glasgow South West, where he won the second biggest swing to Labour in Scotland. He is a member of the Public Accounts Select Committee and has lobbied to support the Scottish shipbuilding industry. He is also secretary of the influential Trade Union Group of Labour MPs.
Like his colleague and friend Dennis Canavan, he was rejected as a candidate for the Scottish Parliament by the Labour Party, and has felt free to criticise the government since. In 2002 he criticised Prince Michael of Kent for 'squatting' in Kensington Palace. More recently he has criticised the Prince of Wales over his personal finances. He was the chair of Labour Against the Euro before it ceased campaigning following the 2003 decision by Gordon Brown that the five economic tests for the UK to join the euro had not been met.
During the debate in the House of Commons over the decision whether to have a referendum over the EU Treaty of Lisbon (5 March 2008), Davidson drew jeers from his Labour colleagues for branding New Labour supporters "Maoists and Trotskyists". Davidson was putting forward the case for disobeying the party line and voting for a referendum.
He is now Chair of the Centre for a Social Europe, a pro-EU but mildly sceptic left-of-centre think tank. He has been a member of the Scotland Office Select Committee since the 2005 General Election.
From 1973 to 1974, Davidson was Chair of the National Organisation of Labour Students.[2]
He is also a supporter of Republic, a campaign to replace the British Monarchy with an elected head of state.[3]
[edit] Expenses Scandal
During the 2009-10 Expenses Scandal, it emerged that Davidson claimed £87,699 in the four years to 2007; only £30 below the maximum permitted.
He has since admitted that he wished he had a larger mortgage on his London flat to allow him to claim more in allowances.[4]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- ePolitix - Ian Davidson official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Ian Davidson MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Ian Davidson MP
[edit] External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Ian Davidson
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jim Sillars |
Member of Parliament for Glasgow Govan 1992–1997 |
Succeeded by Mohammad Sarwar |
| Preceded by Jimmy Dunnachie |
Member of Parliament for Glasgow Pollok 1997–2005 |
Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West 2005–present |
Incumbent |
