Iain McNicol
Encyclopedia
Iain McNicol is the General Secretary-select of the Labour Party
of Great Britain, assuming his duties in September 2011. He currently serves as National Political Officer of the GMB Union
. He has a long history of organising in both the British Labour Party and the trade union movement in the United Kingdom
.
McNicol began his involvement in political organising as President of the Student Union at Dundee Institute of Technology from 1991 to 1993.
He then moved to the Labour Party, first in an elected role as National Campaigns and Membership Officer for Labour Students
, and then as an organiser and agent from 1994-1997.
Following the Labour Party’s electoral victory in 1997
, McNicol served as a research, organisation, and political officer with the Party until 1998, when he joined the GMB Union as the organiser for the its Southern Region.
McNicol continued in that role until 2004, when he was promoted to National Political Officer. He has served in that capacity since, coordinating the political strategy of the union and representing its members’ interests in both the public and private sector.
On 19 July 2011, Labour’s National Executive Committee
selected McNicol to become the Party’s next General Secretary.
McNicol is married and has a son and daughter. He holds a blackbelt in karate
.
General Secretary of the Labour Party
The General Secretary is the most senior employee of the British Labour Party, and acts as the non-voting secretary to the National Executive Committee...
of Great Britain, assuming his duties in September 2011. He currently serves as National Political Officer of the GMB Union
GMB Union
The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom, and has more than 600,000 members. Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service...
. He has a long history of organising in both the British Labour Party and the trade union movement in the United Kingdom
Trade unions in the United Kingdom
Trade unions in the United Kingdom were first decriminalised under the recommendation of a Royal Commission in 1867, which agreed that the establishment of the organisations was to the advantage of both employers and employees...
.
McNicol began his involvement in political organising as President of the Student Union at Dundee Institute of Technology from 1991 to 1993.
He then moved to the Labour Party, first in an elected role as National Campaigns and Membership Officer for Labour Students
Labour Students
Labour Students is a student organisation affiliated to the British Labour Party.Membership comprises affiliated college and university clubs . Membership of Labour Students is through membership of a university or college Labour Club. Affiliation is open to any Labour Club generally supportive of...
, and then as an organiser and agent from 1994-1997.
Following the Labour Party’s electoral victory in 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, McNicol served as a research, organisation, and political officer with the Party until 1998, when he joined the GMB Union as the organiser for the its Southern Region.
McNicol continued in that role until 2004, when he was promoted to National Political Officer. He has served in that capacity since, coordinating the political strategy of the union and representing its members’ interests in both the public and private sector.
On 19 July 2011, Labour’s National Executive Committee
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party and European Parliamentary Labour Party, Constituency Labour Parties,...
selected McNicol to become the Party’s next General Secretary.
McNicol is married and has a son and daughter. He holds a blackbelt in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
.