James Murphy

Biography

Jim Murphy was re-elected MP for East Renfrewshire in May 2010 with a majority of 10,420.

From 1992 to 1994, Murphy was President of the National Union of Students Scotland, after attending the University of Strathclyde. He was then elected in 1994 as President of the UK NUS, serving until 1996. Under his leadership in 1995, the NUS dropped its opposition to the abolition of the student grant in line with the Labour Party's policies. Subsequently Murphy was condemned by a House of Commons Early Day Motion signed by 17 Labour MPs for 'intolerant and dictatorial behaviour' shortly before being elected to Parliament.[4]

At the 1997 general election, he was elected as MP for the Eastwood constituency, winning the formerly Conservative-held seat with a majority of 3,236.[5]

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 9141.[6]

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[7] 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. After the general election he was elected to the shadow Cabinet as shadow defence secretary.

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)

Constituency

East Renfrewshire

Twitter

Constituency Address

1 Melville Crescent Edinburgh, EH3 7HW

Constituency Tel

0141 621 2080

Date of Birth

23 August 1967

Email

http://www.jimmurphymp.com/

Party

Labour

Personal Website

www.jimmurphymp.com

Westminster Address

Westminster Tel

0207 219 3000