Gregg McClymont
Encyclopedia
Gregg McClymont is a Scottish Labour Party
politician
, who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
since 2010.
, he attended Kildrum Primary School and Cumbernauld High School
from 1981 until 1993. He read History at the University of Glasgow
, graduating in 1997, the year when he was also chair of Scottish Labour Students
, before winning the Thouron Scholarship to study at the University of Pennsylvania
. Returning to Britain, he wrote a doctoral thesis in modern British history at St. John's College, Oxford. Subsequently, he became a tutorial fellow at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, where he taught until May 2010.
to fight the seat of Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
at the 2010 general election. He won the seat with a 13,755 majority and over 57% of the votes cast.
In parliament, McClymont sat on the House of Commons select committees on science and technology, and business, innovation and skills; and held the post of Parliamentary Private Secretary
to shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ann McKechin. In early 2011, he moved on to the Labour front bench as an assistant whip, before becoming the Shadow Pensions Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions in October 2011.
McClymont has been a strong critic of the UK government's economic policy. He has argued repeatedly in parliament for stronger safeguards for post offices following the privatization of the Royal Mail. He has also sought to highlight the impact changes to housing benefit will have on his constituents in Cumbernauld, as well as campaigning for compensation for victims of terror attacks overseas.
'The Cultural Politics of Tory Socialism: The Clarion in the Labour Movement during the 1890s' in Griffiths, Nott and Whyte (eds) Classes, Cultures and Politics: Essays on British History for Ross McKibbin (Oxford, 2011)
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (UK Parliament constituency)
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created for the 2005 general election, replacing Cumbernauld and Kilsyth and part of Strathkelvin and Bearsden....
since 2010.
Background and personal life
Born and brought up in CumbernauldCumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
, he attended Kildrum Primary School and Cumbernauld High School
Cumbernauld High School
Cumbernauld High School was the first comprehensive secondary school in the then 'New Town' of Cumbernauld. It opened in 1964 and is a non-denominational, co-educational, secondary school...
from 1981 until 1993. He read History at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, graduating in 1997, the year when he was also chair of Scottish Labour Students
Scottish Labour Students
Scottish Labour Students , is a student society, affiliated to the Scottish Labour Party and forms an important part of the UK-wide organisation Labour Students....
, before winning the Thouron Scholarship to study at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. Returning to Britain, he wrote a doctoral thesis in modern British history at St. John's College, Oxford. Subsequently, he became a tutorial fellow at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, where he taught until May 2010.
Political life
He was selected to replace outgoing Labour MP Rosemary McKennaRosemary McKenna
Rosemary McKenna CBE is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East until 2010.-Early life:...
to fight the seat of Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East (UK Parliament constituency)
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created for the 2005 general election, replacing Cumbernauld and Kilsyth and part of Strathkelvin and Bearsden....
at the 2010 general election. He won the seat with a 13,755 majority and over 57% of the votes cast.
In parliament, McClymont sat on the House of Commons select committees on science and technology, and business, innovation and skills; and held the post of Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to shadow Secretary of State for Scotland Ann McKechin. In early 2011, he moved on to the Labour front bench as an assistant whip, before becoming the Shadow Pensions Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions in October 2011.
McClymont has been a strong critic of the UK government's economic policy. He has argued repeatedly in parliament for stronger safeguards for post offices following the privatization of the Royal Mail. He has also sought to highlight the impact changes to housing benefit will have on his constituents in Cumbernauld, as well as campaigning for compensation for victims of terror attacks overseas.
Academic Publications
'Socialism, Puritanism and Hedonism: The Parliamentary Labour Party's Attitude to Gambling, 1923-31' Twentieth Century British History, Vol 19, Issue 3 (2008) 288-313'The Cultural Politics of Tory Socialism: The Clarion in the Labour Movement during the 1890s' in Griffiths, Nott and Whyte (eds) Classes, Cultures and Politics: Essays on British History for Ross McKibbin (Oxford, 2011)