Claudia Hamilton Beamish (born 9 August 1952) is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician who served as Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the South Scotland region from 2011 to 2021.

Claudia Beamish
Beamish in 2016
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for South Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office
5 May 2011 – 5 May 2021
Scottish Labour portfolios
2016–2021Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
Personal details
Born
Claudia Hamilton Beamish

(1952-08-09) 9 August 1952 (age 72)
London, England
Political partyScottish Labour Co-operative
Domestic partnerMichael Derrington
Parent
WebsiteOfficial Website

Early life

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Claudia Hamilton Beamish is the daughter of the Conservative life peer Tufton Victor Hamilton Beamish, Baron Chelwood and his first wife Janet McMillan Stevenson.[1] Prior to entering politics, she worked as a primary school teacher.[2][3]

Political career

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Beamish was placed at the top of Labour's list for the South of Scotland in the 2003[4] and 2007 Scottish Parliament elections[5] and was Labour Co-operative candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale at the 2010 general election.

Beamish was the Convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee in the Scottish Parliament in the second half of 2011. Following the election of Johann Lamont as Labour leader, Beamish was appointed as Labour's Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change.[6] She served as a member of the Parliament's Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee during its scrutiny of the Land Reform Bill 2015.[7] She is a member of various Cross-Party Groups; Deputy Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Dyslexia;[8] Deputy Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Men's Violence Against Women and Children;[9] and Co-convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Carers.[10]

Beamish nominated Anas Sarwar in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[11]

She lost her seat in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[12]

Personal life

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Beamish's partner is actor Michael Derrington.[13] They brought up their children in Pettinain, South Lanarkshire.[14] While an MSP, she rented a flat in Shandon, Edinburgh which is owned by former Education minister Peter Peacock.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Lundy, Darryl. "Hon. Claudia Hamilton Beamish". thePeerage.com. p. 27085. Retrieved 12 January 2012.[unreliable source]
  2. ^ "Labour vetoes left-winger; Supporters cry foul as Alex Smith's bid to stand as party candidate in Ayr by-election is blocked". pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 22 January 2000. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Scottish Labour Party elects new Chair | - The Scottish Labour Party". scottishlabour.org.uk. 18 April 2009. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  4. ^ "Daughter of ex-Tory MP running as Labour candidate". The Scotsman. 28 January 2003. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Chance for small parties". Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser. 19 April 2007. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Current Members - Claudia Beamish". The Scottish Parliament. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  7. ^ Gibson, Rob (2020), Reclaiming Our Land, Highland Heritage Educational Trust, p. 219, ISBN 9781527281813
  8. ^ "Dyslexia - MSPS : Scottish Parliament". Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Men's Violence Against Women and Children - MSPS : Scottish Parliament". Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Carers - MSPS : Scottish Parliament". Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Scottish Leadership Election 2021 - Nominations". Scottish Labour. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Scottish Election: SNP squeezed as border region bucks trend". ITV News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  13. ^ "About Claudia". claudiabeamish.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Clydesdale Teacher hopes to chalk up win over Tories at general election". Hamilton Advertiser. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  15. ^ Hutcheon, Paul (9 October 2016). "Labour MSP charges taxpayer £57,000 for living in former Education Minister's flat". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
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