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Anne Catherine McGuire (born 26 May 1949, Glasgow) A Scottish politician. She is the Labour Member of Parliament for Stirling.
Early life
Born in Glasgow as Anne Catherine Long, she was educated at the city's Our Lady and St Francis Secondary School (became part of St Mungo's Academy in 1988) on Charlotte Street and the University of Glasgow where she was awarded a MA in Politics and History. She went on to study for teacher training at the Notre Dame College of Education (merged with Craiglockhart College in 1981 to become the St Andrew's College of Education, then became part of the Faculty of Education of the University of Glasgow in 1999) in Bearsden, gaining a Diploma in Secondary Education.
She worked in the University Court of the University of Glasgow as both a registrar and a secretary from 1971-4. In 1983 she joined Community Service Volunteers (CSV), initially as a teacher, then working as a fieldworker, she left the organisation in 1993 as its national officer. On leaving CSV, she became the Deputy Director of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, where she remained until her election to Westminster in 1997.
Parliamentary career
She was the parliamentary election agent for Norman Hogg at the 1979 General Election at Dunbartonshire East when he ousted the Scottish National Party's MP Margaret Bain (later Margaret Ewing). She remained as Hogg's election agent for the 1983, 1987 and 1992 elections in his new Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency. She was elected a councillor to Strathclyde Regional Council in 1980 and served for two years. She was a member of the Scottish Labour Party Executive from 1984 until 1997 and Chair of the Scottish Labour Party from 1992-1993. From 1987 until 1991 she was a member of the national executive of the GMB Union
She was first elected to the House of Commons at the 1997 general election when she ousted the then Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Forsyth by 6,411 votes. In the same year as her first election she was rewarded by becoming the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Labour Secretary of State for Scotland, Donald Dewar. A year later she was appointed an assistant into the Government Whip's office, becoming a Lord Commissioner to the Treasury in 2001. She became a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland in 2002, moving sideways to the Department for Constitutional Affairs in 2003. She served in the Department for Work and Pensions as and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for disabilities, from 2005 until 2008. In October 2008 she stood down from the government and it was announced she would be appointed to the Privy Council.
Personal life
She has been married to her husband, Len, since February 22 1972 and they have a son and a daughter and live in Cumbernauld. Her son Paul, plays bagpipes in the Vatersay Boys. She is a keen linguist and speaks French and Gaelic. She enjoys Ceilidh dancing and is honorary vice-president of Glasgow University Shinty Club[1].
Reputation
McGuire is a committed New Labour supporter. After nearly a decade as an MP she has never been known to vote against, or offer even the slightest public criticism of the Government position and can be relied on to support the party line under all circumstances.
McGuire spoke in 16 Commons debates in 2004 (428th out of 659 MPs). FaxYourMP.com have recorded that she replied within 14 days to 57% of messages sent via FaxYourMP.com during 2004 (351st out of 590 MPs). She voted in 82% of Commons votes (216th out of 646 MPs).
McGuire's share of the vote has declined steadily since 1997 (47.4%), through 2001 (42.2%) to 2005 (36.0%), although her majority has so far remained consistent.
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