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==Early life==
==Early life==
She was the daughter of James O'Neill, a clerk, tram driver and shopworker, and Margaret Lacey, a former shop assistant.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Roth, Andrew, 1919–2010.|first=|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/20315507|title=Parliamentary profiles|date=1989|publisher=Parliamentary Profiles|others=Roth, Terry., Gifford, Manda., Reid, Andrew.|year=|isbn=0-900582-26-X|edition=2nd|location=London|pages=510-511|oclc=20315507|access-date=30 November 2020|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164529/https://www.worldcat.org/title/parliamentary-profiles/oclc/20315507|url-status=live}}</ref> She was born in Gorbals, Glasgow, and was educated at Notre Dame High School.<ref name=":0" /> She became a member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1960. She returned to education as a mature student, studying Economic History at the [[University of Strathclyde]] and graduated in 1975 with a BA (Hons).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fyfe|first=Maria|title=Who's Who 2012|publisher=A & C Black|year=2012|isbn=|location=online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2011|pages=}}</ref> She worked as a senior lecturer in the Trade Union Studies Unit at [[Central College (Glasgow)|Glasgow Central College of Commerce]] from 1978 to 1987. In 1980, she was elected to [[Glasgow District Council]], serving first as Vice-Convener of the Finance Committee from 1980 and later as Convener of the Personnel Committee until 1987, when she was elected to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]].<ref name=scots/>
She was the daughter of James O'Neill, a clerk, tram driver and shopworker, and Margaret Lacey, a former shop assistant.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Roth|first1=Andrew|last2=Roth|first2=Terry|last3=Gifford|first3=Manda|last4=Reid|first4=Andrew|title=Parliamentary profiles|date=1989|publisher=Parliamentary Profiles|isbn=0-900582-26-X|edition=2nd|location=London|pages=510-511|oclc=20315507}}</ref> She was born in Gorbals, Glasgow, and was educated at Notre Dame High School.<ref name=":0" /> She became a member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1960. She returned to education as a mature student, studying Economic History at the [[University of Strathclyde]] and graduated in 1975 with a BA (Hons).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fyfe|first=Maria|title=Who's Who 2012|publisher=A & C Black; Oxford University Press|date=December 2011}}</ref> She worked as a senior lecturer in the Trade Union Studies Unit at [[Central College (Glasgow)|Glasgow Central College of Commerce]] from 1978 to 1987. In 1980, she was elected to [[Glasgow District Council]], serving first as Vice-Convener of the Finance Committee from 1980 and later as Convener of the Personnel Committee until 1987, when she was elected to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]].<ref name=scots/>


==Parliamentary career==
==Parliamentary career==
At the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]], Fyfe was returned to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] as [[Glasgow Maryhill (UK Parliament constituency)|Member for Glasgow Maryhill]], a position she occupied until the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]]. She served as [[Minister for Women and Equality|Deputy Shadow Minister for Women]] from 1988 to 1991, Convener of the Scottish Group of Labour MPs from 1991 to 1992, and [[Frontbencher|front bench]] spokesperson for [[Scottish Office|Scotland]] from 1992 to 1995.<ref name=scots/> She did not stand for reelection at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 General Election]] and was succeeded by [[Ann McKechin]]. Fyfe was awarded an [[Honorary degree|honorary]] D.Univ. by the [[University of Glasgow]] in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archive/2002/june/headline_29767_en.html |title=University of Glasgow :: University news :: June 2002 |access-date=28 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605081422/http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archive/2002/june/headline_29767_en.html |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]], Fyfe was returned to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] as [[Glasgow Maryhill (UK Parliament constituency)|Member for Glasgow Maryhill]], a position she occupied until the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]]. She served as [[Minister for Women and Equality|Deputy Shadow Minister for Women]] from 1988 to 1991, Convener of the Scottish Group of Labour MPs from 1991 to 1992, and [[Frontbencher|front bench]] spokesperson for [[Scottish Office|Scotland]] from 1992 to 1995.<ref name=scots/> She did not stand for reelection at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 General Election]] and was succeeded by [[Ann McKechin]]. Fyfe was awarded an [[Honorary degree|honorary]] D.Univ. by the [[University of Glasgow]] in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archive/2002/june/headline_29767_en.html |title=University of Glasgow :: University news :: June 2002 |access-date=28 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605081422/http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/archive/2002/june/headline_29767_en.html |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>


She was quoted as saying: "I am proudest of having been involved in the 50-50 campaign to ensure that the [[Scottish Parliament]] started life with an almost equal representation of women, up there with the [[Scandinavia]]n countries".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-1848,00.html |title=Fyfe, Maria {{!}} Aristotle {{!}} guardian.co.uk Politics |access-date=19 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219093327/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-1848,00.html |archive-date=19 December 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> After standing down Fyfe continued to campaign politically including on the issue of homelessness. She also chaired the campaign to erect a statue of Glasgow councillor and rent strike campaigner [[Mary Barbour]].<ref name=scots>{{cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Gina |title=Former Scottish Labour MP and 'pioneer' Maria Fyfe dies aged 82 |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/former-scottish-labour-mp-and-pioneer-maria-fyfe-dies-aged-82-3056446 |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=The Scotsman |date=3 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164522/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/former-scottish-labour-mp-and-pioneer-maria-fyfe-dies-aged-82-3056446 |url-status=live }}</ref>
She was quoted as saying: "I am proudest of having been involved in the 50-50 campaign to ensure that the [[Scottish Parliament]] started life with an almost equal representation of women, up there with the [[Scandinavia]]n countries".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-1848,00.html |title=Fyfe, Maria {{!}} Aristotle {{!}} guardian.co.uk Politics |access-date=19 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219093327/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-1848,00.html |archive-date=19 December 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> After standing down Fyfe continued to campaign politically including on the issue of homelessness. She also chaired the campaign to erect a statue of Glasgow councillor and rent strike campaigner [[Mary Barbour]].<ref name=scots>{{cite news |last1=Davidson |first1=Gina |title=Former Scottish Labour MP and 'pioneer' Maria Fyfe dies aged 82 |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/former-scottish-labour-mp-and-pioneer-maria-fyfe-dies-aged-82-3056446 |access-date=5 December 2020 |work=The Scotsman |date=3 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164522/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/former-scottish-labour-mp-and-pioneer-maria-fyfe-dies-aged-82-3056446 |url-status=live}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
The then Maria O'Neill married James Joseph Fyfe in 1964; the couple had two sons. Her husband pre-deceased her.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow|first=|date=|title=Maria Fyfe|url=http://royalphil.org/Sessions/Session-215/Maria%20Fyfe.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316081630/http://royalphil.org/Sessions/Session-215/Maria%20Fyfe.pdf|archive-date=16 March 2017|access-date=4 July 2020|website=}}</ref>
The then Maria O'Neill married James Joseph Fyfe in 1964; the couple had two sons. Her husband pre-deceased her.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow|first=|date=|title=Maria Fyfe|url=http://royalphil.org/Sessions/Session-215/Maria%20Fyfe.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316081630/http://royalphil.org/Sessions/Session-215/Maria%20Fyfe.pdf|archive-date=16 March 2017|access-date=4 July 2020|website=}}</ref>


Fyfe was interviewed in 2012 as part of [[The History of Parliament]]'s oral history project.<ref name="Life story interview with Maria Fyfe (1938-), former Labour Member of Parliament">{{cite web|title=Maria Fyfe interviewed by Dean White|url=http://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history/The-History-of-Parliament-Oral-History-Project/021M-C1503X0032XX-0001V0|publisher=[[British Library Sound Archive]]|accessdate=26 January 2018|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164524/https://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history/The-History-of-Parliament-Oral-History-Project/021M-C1503X0032XX-0001V0|url-status=live}}</ref> She wrote an autobiography, entitled ''Singing in the Streets'', that described her life growing up in the Gorbals in the aftermath of the Second World War, as well as her political career.<ref name=scots/>
Fyfe was interviewed in 2012 as part of [[The History of Parliament]]'s oral history project.<ref name="Life story interview with Maria Fyfe (1938-), former Labour Member of Parliament">{{cite web|title=Maria Fyfe interviewed by Dean White|url=http://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history/The-History-of-Parliament-Oral-History-Project/021M-C1503X0032XX-0001V0|publisher=[[British Library Sound Archive]]|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164524/https://sounds.bl.uk/Oral-history/The-History-of-Parliament-Oral-History-Project/021M-C1503X0032XX-0001V0|url-status=live}}</ref> She wrote an autobiography, entitled ''Singing in the Streets'', that described her life growing up in the Gorbals in the aftermath of the Second World War, as well as her political career.<ref name=scots/>


Fyfe died on 3 December 2020, at age 82, after a short illness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55174010|title=Former Glasgow Labour MP Maria Fyfe dies aged 82|date=3 December 2020|via=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164535/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55174010|url-status=live}}</ref>
Fyfe died on 3 December 2020, at age 82, after a short illness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55174010|title=Former Glasgow Labour MP Maria Fyfe dies aged 82|date=3 December 2020|via=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205164535/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-55174010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:36, 6 December 2020

Maria Fyfe
Member of Parliament
for Glasgow Maryhill
In office
11 June 1987 – 7 June 2001
Preceded byJames Craigen
Succeeded byAnn McKechin
Personal details
Born
Maria O'Neill

(1938-11-25)25 November 1938
Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland
Died3 December 2020(2020-12-03) (aged 82)
Political partyLabour
SpouseJames Joseph Fyfe (deceased)
Alma materStrathclyde

Maria Fyfe (née O'Neill; 25 November 1938 – 3 December 2020) was a Scottish politician who served as Member of Parliament for Glasgow Maryhill from 1987 to 2001. She was Deputy Shadow Minister for Women from 1988 to 1991, Convener of the Scottish Group of Labour MPs from 1991 to 1992 and front bench spokesperson for Scotland from 1992 to 1995. Fyfe campaigned for 50-50 representation of women in the Scottish Parliament.

Early life

She was the daughter of James O'Neill, a clerk, tram driver and shopworker, and Margaret Lacey, a former shop assistant.[1] She was born in Gorbals, Glasgow, and was educated at Notre Dame High School.[1] She became a member of the Labour Party in 1960. She returned to education as a mature student, studying Economic History at the University of Strathclyde and graduated in 1975 with a BA (Hons).[2] She worked as a senior lecturer in the Trade Union Studies Unit at Glasgow Central College of Commerce from 1978 to 1987. In 1980, she was elected to Glasgow District Council, serving first as Vice-Convener of the Finance Committee from 1980 and later as Convener of the Personnel Committee until 1987, when she was elected to Parliament.[3]

Parliamentary career

At the 1987 general election, Fyfe was returned to Parliament as Member for Glasgow Maryhill, a position she occupied until the 2001 general election. She served as Deputy Shadow Minister for Women from 1988 to 1991, Convener of the Scottish Group of Labour MPs from 1991 to 1992, and front bench spokesperson for Scotland from 1992 to 1995.[3] She did not stand for reelection at the 2001 General Election and was succeeded by Ann McKechin. Fyfe was awarded an honorary D.Univ. by the University of Glasgow in 2002.[4]

She was quoted as saying: "I am proudest of having been involved in the 50-50 campaign to ensure that the Scottish Parliament started life with an almost equal representation of women, up there with the Scandinavian countries".[5] After standing down Fyfe continued to campaign politically including on the issue of homelessness. She also chaired the campaign to erect a statue of Glasgow councillor and rent strike campaigner Mary Barbour.[3]

Personal life

The then Maria O'Neill married James Joseph Fyfe in 1964; the couple had two sons. Her husband pre-deceased her.[6]

Fyfe was interviewed in 2012 as part of The History of Parliament's oral history project.[7] She wrote an autobiography, entitled Singing in the Streets, that described her life growing up in the Gorbals in the aftermath of the Second World War, as well as her political career.[3]

Fyfe died on 3 December 2020, at age 82, after a short illness.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Roth, Andrew; Roth, Terry; Gifford, Manda; Reid, Andrew (1989). Parliamentary profiles (2nd ed.). London: Parliamentary Profiles. pp. 510–511. ISBN 0-900582-26-X. OCLC 20315507.
  2. ^ Fyfe, Maria (December 2011). Who's Who 2012. A & C Black; Oxford University Press.
  3. ^ a b c d Davidson, Gina (3 December 2020). "Former Scottish Labour MP and 'pioneer' Maria Fyfe dies aged 82". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  4. ^ "University of Glasgow :: University news :: June 2002". Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  5. ^ "Fyfe, Maria | Aristotle | guardian.co.uk Politics". Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2006.
  6. ^ Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow. "Maria Fyfe" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Maria Fyfe interviewed by Dean White". British Library Sound Archive. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Former Glasgow Labour MP Maria Fyfe dies aged 82". 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Glasgow Maryhill
1987–2001 		Succeeded by
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