Tommy Graham

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For other persons named Thomas Graham, see Thomas Graham (disambiguation).

Thomas Graham, known as Tommy Graham, (born 5 December 1943) is a Scottish former Labour Party politician.

Graham is a Glaswegian, and worked as an engineer before serving on Strathclyde Regional Council from 1978 to 1987.

Graham was elected in 1987 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Renfrew West and Inverclyde, defeating the Conservative Party candidate Anna McCurley. After favourable boundary changes in 1997, he was elected MP for Renfrewshire West.

Following the suicide of his parliamentary colleague Gordon McMaster in July 1997, a long investigation was launched after McMaster had accused Graham of smearing him in his suicide note. In September 1998, Graham was expelled from the Labour Party for 'bringing the party into disrepute,' despite his categorical denials of any wrongdoing. He became an independent and described himself as a 'Scottish Labour' MP. After his expulsion when Graham was asked where he would be sitting in the House of Commons, he replied, 'On my bum.' In fact, he actually sat on the opposition benches of the Commons but continued to vote with the government on many issues.

It was thought that Tommy Graham would stand again at the 2001 election, but he did not do so and quietly retired. His successor was Labour's James Sheridan.

[edit] References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons 1997
• This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.
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