Jim Murphy

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James Murphy (born 23 August 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a politician in the United Kingdom.[1] He is Labour member of Parliament for East Renfrewshire, Scotland, and as of May 2006 is a Minister of State at the Department of Work and Pensions [2].

Murphy grew up in both Scotland and South Africa. He has been an MP since 1997, when he was elected at age 29, and was previously a controversial president of the National Union of Students (NUS). Under his leadership, the NUS, in 1995, dropped their opposition to the abolition of the student grant in line with the Labour Party's policies, although Murphy "was condemned by a House of Commons Early Day Motion for 'intolerant and dictatorial behaviour' shortly before being elected..." [3].

He joined the government in May 2002 as an assistant whip, rising within the Whips' Office to become Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in June 2003. In the reshuffle following the general election of May 2005, he became Information and Communication Minister at the Cabinet Office as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. However, in November of the same year, the Cabinet Office Minister, John Hutton, became Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following the resignation of David Blunkett. As the prime minister did not immediately replace Hutton, Murphy became acting Cabinet Office Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. This situation persisted until May 2006, when Hilary Armstrong took over on a permanent basis from Hutton. There had been speculation that Murphy, whose handling of the role was well-regarded, would be given the post, but this would have been an unusually fast promotion (under-secretary straight to cabinet minister).

He has been Minister of State for Employment & Welfare Reform at the Department of Work and Pensions since the reshuffle in May 2006, working with his former boss John Hutton again. He is a board member of the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). (Prime Minister Tony Blair has been a member of the LFI since 1983.). During his time as a student activist in Glasgow he was known for his support for international liberation struggles including the campaigns of the PLO and ANC.

In December 2001, Murphy admitted that the House of Commons paid the full rent for his constituency office while he claimed half the rent from Eastwood MSP Ken MacIntosh, with whom he shares the office [4].

Contents

[edit] Parliamentary career

  • 1997 First Elected
  • 2001 - 2002 PPS to Helen Liddell, Secretary of State for Scotland
  • 2002 - 2005 Whip
  • 2005 - 2006 Parliamentary under-secretary of state, Cabinet Office
  • 2005 - 2006 Acting Cabinet Office Minister
  • 2006 - Minister of state, Department of Work and Pensions

[edit] Role in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act

Murphy was the government minister attempting to bring the controversial Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act through its parliamentary stages. He introduced it to the House of Commons on 11 January 2006, defended it on the Today programme, and has chaired the committees.

[edit] Personal

Murphy is a fan of Celtic F.C. [5] and was married at Parkhead, where he is in regular attendance. He and his wife have 2 sons and a daughter.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by:
Allan Stewart		 Member of Parliament
for Eastwood
1997–2005		 Succeeded by:
(constituency abolished)
Preceded by:
(new constituency)		 Member of Parliament
for East Renfrewshire
2005 – present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by:
John Hutton		 Cabinet Office Minister
2005–2006		 Succeeded by:
Hilary Armstrong
Preceded by:
John Hutton		 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
2005–2006		 Succeeded by:
Hilary Armstrong
Other Offices
Preceded by:
Lorna Fitzsimons		 President of the
National Union of Students
1994–1996		 Succeeded by:
Douglas Trainer
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