Shona McIsaac
Encyclopedia
Shona McIsaac is a British
Labour Party
politician, who was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Cleethorpes
from 1997
to 2010. After experiencing diminishing support in the elections of 2001 and 2005, she was succeeded by Conservative candidate Martin Vickers
in the 2010 election.
in Mons
in Belgium
, then Barne Barton
Secondary Modern school in St Budeaux and Stoke Damerel High School for Girls (now called Stoke Damerel Community College
) in Stoke, Plymouth. She studied for a BSc
in Geography whilst at St. Aidan's College
of University of Durham, being taught by David Bellamy
, and graduated in 1981.
She wrote and worked on women's weekly magazines, being deputy chief sub-editor
of Bella
, senior sub-editor of Chat
and chief sub-editor of Woman.
. She was selected to stand for election for Labour in Cleethorpes
through an all-women shortlist
. This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws. Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election.
She served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Minister of State within the Department of Health.
McIsaac proposed a bill limiting the use of fireworks, and supportive of anti-fox hunting measures.
McIsaac has been described as a 'government loyalist' and a "super loyal backbencher". According to the website TheyWorkForYou.com, McIsaac rarely rebels against the Government, with the bbc stating "she regards it almost as a duty to support the government's agenda". She supported the Government in the vote on the war in Iraq.
In October 2009, following significant research, McIsaac launched a small campaign to raise awareness of the poor state of many UK war memorials. Her principal case study was of the war memorial in Wold Newton, a small village in her constituency. She spoke on the subject in the House of Commons and an article appeared in the Telegraph.
In May 2010, following the general election, she personally blamed Gordon Brown for Labour's defeat on TV.
. Her majority diminished progressively at the 2001 and 2005 general elections.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician, who was 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 Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes (UK Parliament constituency)
Cleethorpes is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. It is a marginal seat between Labour and the Conservatives...
from 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...
to 2010. After experiencing diminishing support in the elections of 2001 and 2005, she was succeeded by Conservative candidate Martin Vickers
Martin Vickers
Martin John Vickers is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Cleethorpes at the 2010 general election.-Early life:...
in the 2010 election.
Before politics
She went to the SHAPE High SchoolSHAPE High School
SHAPE High School is a DODDS high school for grades 7-12 located at Casteau a town north of the city Mons, Belgium. SHAPE American High School supports the educational needs of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe community...
in Mons
Mons
Mons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, then Barne Barton
Barne Barton
Barne Barton is an area within St Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon, England.-Geography:Barne Barton is located to the North West of Plymouth about 2 miles from the Tamar Bridge...
Secondary Modern school in St Budeaux and Stoke Damerel High School for Girls (now called Stoke Damerel Community College
Stoke Damerel Community College
Stoke Damerel Community College is a maths and computing college in Stoke, Plymouth, England.Stoke Damerel Community College was formed after the closure of Penlee Secondary Modern in the late 1980s...
) in Stoke, Plymouth. She studied for a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Geography whilst at St. Aidan's College
St Aidan's College
St Aidan's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Founded in 1947 as St Aidan's Society, but able to trace its roots back to the end of the 19th century, the college is named for St Aidan of Lindisfarne.-History:...
of University of Durham, being taught by David Bellamy
David Bellamy
David James Bellamy OBE is a British author, broadcaster, environmental campaigner and botanist. He has lived in County Durham since 1960.-Career:...
, and graduated in 1981.
She wrote and worked on women's weekly magazines, being deputy chief sub-editor
Copy editing
Copy editing is the work that an editor does to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of text. Unlike general editing, copy editing might not involve changing the substance of the text. Copy refers to written or typewritten text for typesetting, printing, or publication...
of Bella
Bella (magazine)
Bella is a weekly magazine aimed at women, currently published in the United Kingdom by H Bauer Publishing, the UK subsidiary of the German-owned family business, the Bauer Group. A new issue is published every Tuesday. It was the first magazine published in the UK by Bauer and continues to be one...
, senior sub-editor of Chat
Chat (magazine)
Chat is a British weekly women's magazine, published through the IPC Media group, and edited by Gilly Sinclair. The magazine includes mostly real life stories....
and chief sub-editor of Woman.
Parliament
McIsaac started her political career as a councillor to the London Borough of WandsworthLondon Borough of Wandsworth
The London Borough of Wandsworth is a London borough in southwest London, England, and forms part of Inner London.-History:The borough was formed in 1965 from the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea and much of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth, but...
. She was selected to stand for election for Labour in Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
through an all-women shortlist
All-women shortlists
The use of all-women shortlists is the political practice intended to increase the proportion of female Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom by allowing only women to stand in particular constituencies for a particular political party. Though the practice is available to all parties, only...
. This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws. Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election.
She served as a 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 the Minister of State within the Department of Health.
McIsaac proposed a bill limiting the use of fireworks, and supportive of anti-fox hunting measures.
McIsaac has been described as a 'government loyalist' and a "super loyal backbencher". According to the website TheyWorkForYou.com, McIsaac rarely rebels against the Government, with the bbc stating "she regards it almost as a duty to support the government's agenda". She supported the Government in the vote on the war in Iraq.
In October 2009, following significant research, McIsaac launched a small campaign to raise awareness of the poor state of many UK war memorials. Her principal case study was of the war memorial in Wold Newton, a small village in her constituency. She spoke on the subject in the House of Commons and an article appeared in the Telegraph.
In May 2010, following the general election, she personally blamed Gordon Brown for Labour's defeat on TV.
Majority
McIsaac was narrowly re-elected at the 2005 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. Her majority diminished progressively at the 2001 and 2005 general elections.
Personal life
McIsaac lives in Cleethorpes with her husband Peter Keith whom she married in 1994.External links
- Shona McIsaac MP
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Shona McIsaac MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Shona McIsaac MP
- Her voting record at the Public Whip
- BBC Politics profile