Amy Callaghan
Amy Callaghan | |
---|---|
SNP Spokesperson for Pensions and Intergenerational Affairs | |
Assumed office 8 January 2020 | |
Leader | Ian Blackford |
Preceded by | Position established |
Member of Parliament for East Dunbartonshire | |
Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jo Swinson |
Majority | 149 (0.3%) |
Personal details | |
Born | 21 May 1992 |
Nationality | Scottish |
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Education | University of Strathclyde |
Amy Callaghan (born 21 May 1992)[1][2] is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who was elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom at the 2019 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Dunbartonshire.[3] She unseated the then Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson with a narrow majority of 149 votes or 0.3%, overturning her majority of 5,339 votes two years earlier.[4]
Background[]
Callaghan grew up in Clydebank and studied politics at the University of Strathclyde.[5]
Callaghan was diagnosed with melanoma when she was 19 and cites her experience of cancer as motivation to safeguard the NHS, saying "it can never be jeopardised".[6] She has been cancer-free since 2014.[5]
In June 2020, Callaghan's office announced that she had suffered a brain haemorrhage, and had undergone emergency neurosurgery.[7][8] She spent four months recovering in the Physically Disabled Rehabilitation Unit at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.[9][10]
Political career[]
Prior to her election, she worked as the office manager for MSP Rona Mackay. She has also previously served on the Children's Panel.[5]
She was selected as the Scottish National Party's candidate for the seat of East Dunbartonshire in September 2019.[11] At the December 2019 general election, Callaghan won the seat, beating the incumbent MP and Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson.[12]
In January 2020, she was selected as the SNP's Spokesperson for Pensions and Intergenerational Affairs.[13] In March 2020, she was selected as a member of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee.[14] She was later discharged from the Committee in June 2020.[15]
Personal life[]
On 16 August 2021, Callaghan became engaged.
References[]
- ^ "WATCH: Amy Callaghan's 'brilliant' maiden speech as SNP MP". The National. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
The 27-year-old, who unseated then Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson in the General Election in December, spoke about Scottish independence and protecting the NHS from the Tories.
- ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ "Dunbartonshire East parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ Walker, Peter; Murphy, Simon; Brooks, Libby (13 December 2019). "Jo Swinson quits as Lib Dem leader after losing her own seat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ a b c Diamond, Claire (17 December 2019). "Election 2019: Who is the young SNP MP who beat Jo Swinson?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ "General Election 2019: Who is Amy Callaghan, the MSP who beat Jo Swinson?". www.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ Office of Amy Callaghan [@AmyCallaghanSNP] (15 June 2020). "Statement from the Office of Amy Callaghan MP" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "SNP MP Amy Callaghan suffers brain haemorrhage". BBC News. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "SNP MP Amy Callaghan out of hospital after brain haemorrhage". BBC News. BBC. 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- ^ @amycallaghansnp (15 October 2020). "After 4 months in hospital, today I've been discharged. I'm coming home. To the miracle team at @NHSGGC PDRU - now my second family - thank you. I can never, ever repay you. I was wheeled in here. Now I'm walking out. I'm just getting started too" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 October 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "SNP choose candidate to fight East Dunbartonshire seat". Kirkintilloch Herald. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ Diamond, Claire (17 December 2019). "Who is the young SNP MP who beat Jo Swinson?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "These are the big changes as the SNP Westminster team reshuffles". The National. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Health and Social Care Committee membership agreed - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "Business without Debate - Hansard". hansard.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
External links[]
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
- 1992 births
- Living people
- 21st-century Scottish women politicians
- Alumni of the University of Strathclyde
- Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies
- Scottish National Party MPs
- UK MPs 2019–present
- People from Clydebank
- UK MP for Scotland stubs
- UK MPs 2019–present stubs