Róisín Mary Bridget McLaren (born 12 October 1994) is a former national co-spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) from 2018 to 2021.
Róisín McLaren | |
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![]() Róisín McLaren in November 2018 | |
National co-spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party | |
Assumed office 10 November 2018 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Róisín Mary Bridget McLaren 12 October 1994 Edinburgh, Scotland |
Political party | Scottish Socialist Party |
Alma mater | Scotland's Rural College |
Personal life
editMcLaren was born in Edinburgh before moving to Livingston and then West Calder, where she spent most of her childhood. Her great grandfather was a shale miner and a member of the Independent Labour Party in West Calder.[1] Her father was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain and later Democratic Left Scotland.[2] Her mother is a former member of the Socialist Workers Party. Her family were activists for a "Yes, Yes" vote in the 1979 referendum on Scottish devolution.
McLaren attended St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn, before receiving a “foundationer” place at George Heriot’s School.[3] She went on to study Sustainable Environmental Management at Scotland's Rural College.[4]
Political career
editIn 2013, she joined Edinburgh University Scottish Nationalist Association and became the society's president.[6] McLaren was a prominent organiser of the Yes campaign on Edinburgh University campus.[7] In 2014, she took part in campus debate on independence, urging the audience to use the momentum for the Yes campaign to "create a socially responsible country for future generations to come".
McLaren joined the Scottish Socialist Party in 2017. She attended the Scottish Independence Convention conference "Build: Bridges to Indy" and, interviewed there for the Scottish Socialist Voice, said that: "if independence is about anything, it has to be about improving the lives of working class people."[8]
On 2 June 2018, McLaren chaired a session at the Connolly150 conference - an international conference on James Connolly - which brought together speakers from across the world to discuss and celebrate James Connolly's life and ideas.[9]
In November 2017, McLaren wrote to the Guardian to highlight the issue of zero-hours contracts and the SSP's policy of a £10 minimum wage.[10]
In December 2017, McLaren wrote a joint article with the current SSP National Secretary Hugh Cullen, on radical pro-independence blog Conter which emphasised the need for an organised pro-independence socialist party.[11]
On 10 November 2018, McLaren was elected national co-spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party, beating Frances Curran.[12] McLaren was re-elected against Curran again at the 2019 National Conference.[13]
She was appointed to lead the SSP's climate change action group.
At the 2021 SSP conference she stood down from the SSP executive, because of work and family commitments[citation needed]. She was replaced as female national spokesperson by Natalie Reid[citation needed].
References
edit- ^ "Roisin McLaren: Socialism offers Scots a positive post-indy vision". The National.
- ^ Bathurst, Bella (9 May 2014). "Scottish independence: what young Scots want". the Guardian.
- ^ "Quadrangle: George Heriot's School Development Newsletter" (PDF).
- ^ "Scotland's Rural College" – via PressReader.
- ^ "Róisín McLaren". YouTube.
- ^ "PIR Society hosts heated debate on Scottish Independence". The Student. 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Scotland referendum: Emotions mount on final day of Scottish campaign". Global News.
- ^ Macdonald, Scott (17 November 2017). "Build Bridges to Indy - SIC 2017 | Scottish Socialist Voice Report". YouTube.
- ^ "Connolly150 Conference". Connolly150. 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Millennials struggling to make ends meet | Letters". The Guardian. 21 November 2017.
- ^ "The Challenge For Young Radicals". Conter. 6 December 2017.
- ^ "SSP Executive Committee 2018/2019 election results » Scottish Socialist Party". Scottish Socialist Party. 11 November 2018.
- ^ "National Conference 2019 » Scottish Socialist Party". Scottish Socialist Party. 10 November 2019.