Stephanie Callaghan
Stephanie Callaghan (born 24 April[3] 1971) is a Scottish politician who has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Uddingston and Bellshill since May 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she was a councillor for South Lanarkshire, representing the Hamilton North and East ward from 2016 to 2022.
Stephanie Callaghan | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Uddingston and Bellshill | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Lyle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 April 1971[1][2] Hamilton, Scotland |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Other political affiliations | Scottish Labour (until 2014) |
| Children | Three |
| Alma mater | University of Strathclyde |
Early life and career
Callaghan was born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. She attended the University of Strathclyde. She worked as a manager for Holland and Barrett and took on trainees through Right Track, an organisation assisting young people find jobs and learn skills. She then went on to work for the organisation as a placement officer and then a project coordinator. In her roles, she helped early school leavers and long-term unemployed young people to find jobs.[4]
Political career
Early political years
While at university in the late 1980s, Callaghan joined the Scottish Labour Party when she was 18. She has campaigned against the Poll Tax and student loans. In the aftermath of the Yes Scotland campaign's defeat in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, she joined the Scottish National Party.[4]
Callaghan was elected to South Lanarkshire Council on 21 January 2016 in a by-election for the Hamilton North and East ward, following the death of Lynn Adams. She was re-elected in the following year's Scottish local elections.[5][6]
Scottish Parliament
On 8 May 2021, she was elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Uddingston and Bellshill.[7]
References
- Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
- "Happy birthday to one of my biggest role models & someone who has always encouraged and believed in me! More than this, you are a friend! Hope you have a happy lockdown birthday". Twitter.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- "Happy Birthday to our fab MSP Stephanie @StephySNP from all of the Team at Mossend SNP. Have a great day & thank you for joining us on the campaign trail yesterday". Twitter.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- Bark, Stephen (13 July 2021). "Uddingston & Bellshill MSP talks about her long journey into politics". Daily Record. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- Learmonth, Andrew (23 January 2016). "SNP victory in Hamilton by-election a fresh blow to Labour". The National. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- Cllr Stephanie Callaghan, Christina McKelvie website
- "Scotland Election 2021 | Uddingston & Bellshill". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2021.