Jim Murphy

This page is about the UK politician. For the American author, see Jim Murphy (author).

The Right Honourable Jim Murphy MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 October 2010
Leader	Ed Miliband
Preceded by	Bob Ainsworth
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 11 May 2010 – 8 October 2010
Leader	Harriet Harman Ed Miliband
Preceded by	David Mundell
Succeeded by	Ann McKechin
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 3 October 2008 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Des Browne
Succeeded by	Danny Alexander
Minister for Europe
In office 28 June 2007 – 3 October 2008
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Geoff Hoon
Succeeded by	Caroline Flint
Member of Parliament for East Renfrewshire Eastwood (1997–2005)
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 May 1997
Preceded by	Allan Stewart
Majority	10,420 (20.4%)
Personal details
Born	(1967-08-23) 23 August 1967 Glasgow, United Kingdom
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Claire Murphy
Children	2 sons 1 daughter
Residence	Clarkston
Website	www.jimmurphymp.com

James Francis "Jim" Murphy (born 23 August 1967) is a British Labour Party politician and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Renfrewshire since 1997. Until May 2010 he served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland. Prior to this, he served as Minister for Europe, from 2007–09, before which he was the Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, from 2006–07; he held a number of other junior positions in Her Majesty's Government.

Background

Murphy was raised in a two-bedroom flat in Arden, Glasgow, until the age of twelve, when he emigrated to Cape Town, South Africa, after his father became unemployed.. Murphy also used to play Sunday football for Scotland sometimes with his two brothers and his dad all being in the same team. Murphy returned to Britain at the age of eighteen to study Politics and European Law at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow where he worked as a waiter in order to fund his studies.

Jim Murphy is married to Claire, a primary school teacher; they have three children, two at primary school and one at high school. Murphy is a season ticket holder at Celtic Football Club and captains the Parliamentary Football Team.

National Union of Students

During his time at university, he was elected President of the National Union of Students Scotland, the Scottish 'special region' organisation within the NUS, in 1992 and served a term of office until 1994.

In 1994, Murphy took a sabbatical from university to serve as the President of the National Union of Students, an office which he held from 1994–96, during which time he was a member of Labour Students. After this period, he did not return to his studies and did not take a degree.

During Murphy's presidency in 1995, the NUS dropped its opposition to the abolition of the student grant in line with the Labour Party's policies. Subsequently he was condemned by a House of Commons Early Day Motion introduced by Ken Livingstone and signed by 17 Labour MPs for "intolerant and dictatorial behaviour".

Member of Parliament

Murphy ended his term of office with the NUS in 1996 and at the 1997 general election, he was unexpectedly elected as MP for the Eastwood constituency, winning the formerly safe Conservative seat with a majority of 3,236

From 2000-01, he was a member of the Public Accounts Committee, which oversees public expenditure. In March 2001, he was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Helen Liddell, the Secretary of State for Scotland.

At the 2001 general election he was re-elected as MP for Eastwood, with an increased majority of 9,141.

In June 2002, he was appointed as a government whip, with responsibility for the Scotland Office, Scottish Group of Labour MPs and the Northern Ireland Office. His responsibilities were changed in November 2002 to cover the Department of Trade and Industry instead of the Northern Ireland Office, and in June 2003 to cover the Scotland Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Department for International Development.

For the 2005 general election, the Eastwood constituency was renamed East Renfrewshire, although the boundaries were unchanged. Murphy was re-elected with a majority of 6,657 and promoted to ministerial rank as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Cabinet Office. His responsibilities included e-government, better regulation and public service modernisation.

He was promoted in May 2006 to Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, with responsibilities including employment, welfare reform and child poverty. In June 2007, he was appointed Minister for Europe. His portfolio included Public Diplomacy.

In an October 2008 cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Murphy as Secretary of State for Scotland.

After Labour lost the May 2010 Election, Murphy shadowed the role of Scottish Secretary until Ed Miliband was elected Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Elections could take place.

Following the election of Ed Miliband as Leader of the Opposition, in the Shadow Cabinet appointments that followed Murphy was appointed Shadow Defence Secretary on 8 October 2010.

Labour Party Groups

As a Government Minister, Murphy's membership of these groups was suspended in line with the Ministerial Code.

• Vice Chair Labour’s Departmental Treasury Committee (1997–2001)
• Vice Chair Labour’s Departmental Culture, Media and Sport Committee (1997–2001)
• Member of Labour’s Northern Ireland Committee
• Chair Labour Friends of Israel (2000–2002)

Sources

• "Jim Murphy MP". Guardian Unlimited Politics. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
• "Jim Murphy MP career". Guardian Unlimited Politics. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
• "Jim Murphy Profile". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 November 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2006.
• "Jim Murphy Interview". Public Finance. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2006.

External links

• Jim Murphy official site
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
• Profile: Jim Murphy BBC News,_17_October 2002