Pamela Nash is the Labour MP for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke

Nash was first elected to parliament at the 2010 general election for the constituency of Airdrie and Shotts. She lost her seat at the 2015 general election.

Nash returned to parliament at the 2024 general election.

In the 2024 general election for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke, Nash received 19,168 votes, representing 49.1% of the vote share. The Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate, Marion Fellows, came second with 12,083 votes (31.0%), while the Reform UK candidate, Robert McLaughlan, secured 3,004 votes (7.7%). Nash was duly elected with a majority of 7,085.

The Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke constituency, newly created ahead of the 2024 election, incorporates the majority of the former Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. Marion Fellows represented the former Motherwell and Wishaw seat for the SNP from 2015 to 2024.

Political Career

Nash currently serves as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in the Northern Ireland Office. A PPS acts as an unpaid parliamentary assistant, providing a link between the senior frontbencher and backbench MPs. The role is widely regarded as the first step on the ministerial ladder. Although they cannot speak for the government in debates, a PPS is bound by collective responsibility and becomes part of the so-called “payroll vote”, expected to support the official line in all divisions. Nash was appointed to this role in July 2026, following the Labour leadership contest and Andy Burnham’s elevation as prime minister.

Nash served as a PPS in the Ministry of Defence from September 2025 to June 2026. She resigned in June 2026 after John Healey, the defence secretary, stepped down. She left her frontbench post over a dispute regarding military spending and the defence investment plan (DIP) specifically.

Nash resigned alongside Healey, armed forces minister Al Carns and her fellow MoD PPS Rachel Hopkins.

During her initial stint in parliament, Nash served as a PPS to Jim Murphy as shadow international development secretary. She also held PPS roles assisting Margaret Curran as the shadow Scottish secretary and Vernon Coaker as the shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Nash has sat as a member of the House of Commons science, innovation and technology committee (2010-2015) and the scottish affairs committee (2012-2015).

Nash faced a challenging reselection process for her Airdrie and Shotts seat in October 2013, only narrowly winning the local constituency ballot. A reported 40% of Labour members in the constituency refused to endorse her as Labour’s candidate for the 2015 general election.

Nash was ultimately defeated at the 2015 general election by Neil Gray, the SNP candidate, making her a casualty of the 2015 SNP landslide. Gray secured 23,887 votes (53.9%) and a majority of 8,779 over Nash in second place.

While outside of parliament, Nash served as the head of the Scotland in Union campaign group, succeeding Graeme Pearson as chief executive in August 2017. Scotland in Union was established to advocate for keeping Scotland within the United Kingdom.

Upon taking up the role, Nash stated: “Like so many other people all over Scotland, I campaigned in the 2014 referendum to keep us part of the UK because I believed it was best for our country. I am proud of my No vote and hoped we could move on together after such a decisive result. Sadly, many nationalists are refusing to take no for an answer.”

Nash attempted to secure the Labour nomination for the 2021 Airdrie and Shotts by-election but lost the selection to Kenneth Stevenson. The by-election was ultimately won by SNP candidate Anum Qaisar.

In April 2022, in her capacity as chief executive of Scotland in Union, Nash reportedly urged Scots to vote tactically for the Conservatives in a bid to frustrate a second independence referendum push.

She said: “At these council elections, we encourage Scots to vote for all the pro-UK candidates on their ballot paper in their order of preference, and leave the boxes for the SNP and their nationalist friends blank.

“As part of the UK we can invest more in services delivered by councils, bringing communities and local people together – not pulling them apart.”

Nash was chosen as the prospective candidate for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke in April 2023.

Nash delivered her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 28 June 2010.

In it, she said: “My constituents have not forgiven the Tories for the destruction they let loose upon Scotland in the 1980s. Unfortunately, if the budget gets through, it looks as if history will repeat itself.

“How can a budget that reduces the opportunities that are available, that takes away support from those in danger of losing their homes and that increases VAT be described as progressive?”

She added: “I am proud to come from a place where people put others before themselves. That is at the heart of the politics of the area. It is the birthplace of the Labour movement; people do not just want a better life for themselves and their families, but for everyone else too.

“That is why when we do well, we do not pull up the ladder of opportunity behind us. That is why we support moves to end poverty at home and overseas.”

Political views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Labour deputy leadership 2025: Nash was one of 117 Labour MPs who nominated Lucy Powell for the party’s deputy leadership in September 2025. The election followed the resignation of Angela Rayner, who stepped down as deputy prime minister and deputy party leader after an investigation into her tax affairs. It marked the first time since 2007 that Labour had held a deputy leadership contest while in government.

Powell, the former leader of the House of Commons, was seen as a candidate representing the party’s “soft left”; she was supported by leading soft left figures including Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham. She secured 117 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), above the 80 required, and went on to win the election – defeating Bridget Phillipson with 54.3% of the vote.

Labour leadership 2010: Nash was one of 81 Labour MPs who nominated David Miliband for the party’s leadership in May 2010. The election followed the resignation of Gordon Brown, who stepped down as prime minister and Labour leader after the 2010 general election.

Miliband, the former foreign secretary, was seen as closely aligned with the New Labour project – a Blairite figure. He secured 81 nominations from the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), comfortably exceeding the 33 required to reach the final ballot, but was narrowly defeated by his brother, Ed Miliband, in the final round by 50.7% to 49.3%.

Factional identity and party tradition

SERA: Nash has been listed as a member of the Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA) – a socialist society affiliated with the Labour Party. Founded in 1973, SERA is the party’s official environmental campaign group. The organisation campaigns on a wide range of issues, including renewable energy, biodiversity, air quality and the transition to a green economy. SERA describes its member MPs as “champions for the environment”.

Welfare

Welfare vote (July 2025): Nash voted in favour of the government’s flagship welfare bill at second reading. The vote came after ministers agreed to significant concessions to avoid defeat via a mass rebellion of Labour MPs on 1 July 2025.

Assisted dying

Nash voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Nash voted against a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Same-sex marriage (2013): In February 2013, Nash voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill at its second reading. The landmark piece of legislation, which received its second reading by 400 votes to 175, legalised marriage for same-sex couples in England and Wales.

Foreign policy and security

Syria airstrikes (2013): Nash voted against the government’s motion on the principle of military intervention in Syria in August 2013. The government motion was defeated by 285 votes to 272, a move which effectively ruled out UK participation in any US-led military strikes.

Palestine

Palestinian recognition vote (2014): In October 2014, Nash was one of 192 Labour MPs who voted in favour of recognising Palestine as a state. The motion, passed by 274 votes to 12, called on the government to “recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution”.

Before Politics

Born on 24 June 1984, Nash grew up in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, attending St Margaret’s High School.

Following secondary school, Nash spent a summer volunteering at a school in Nyeri, Kenya. She later completed another placement situated in Uganda while studying for her degree.

She studied at the University of Glasgow.

Before entering parliament, Nash served as a parliamentary officer representing the Young Fabians. She also sat on the executive committee for the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Nash spent a year working as an intern for John Reid, the former cabinet minister and MP for Airdrie and Shotts. Following this initial placement, she was employed as his parliamentary assistant for three years.

Personal Life

Nash’s mother and stepfather died when she was just 17-years-old.

Trivia

Upon her election to parliament in 2010, aged 25, Nash became the youngest sitting member within the House of Commons and therefore “baby of the House”.

Nash was baby of the House from 2010 to 2015.