Amy Callaghan

Amy Callaghan (born 21 May 1992)[1][2] is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who was elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom at the 2019 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Dunbartonshire.[3] She unseated the then Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson with a narrow majority of 149 votes or 0.3%, overturning her majority of 5,339 votes two years earlier.[4]

Amy Callaghan

MP
Callaghan in 2020
SNP Spokesperson for Pensions and Intergenerational Affairs
Assumed office
7 January 2020
LeaderIan Blackford
Preceded byPosition established
Member of Parliament
for East Dunbartonshire
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byJo Swinson
Majority149 (0.3%)
Personal details
Born (1992-05-21) 21 May 1992
NationalityScottish
Political partyScottish National Party
EducationUniversity of Strathclyde

Background

Callaghan grew up in Clydebank and studied politics at the University of Strathclyde.[5]

Callaghan was diagnosed with melanoma when she was 19 and cites her experience of cancer as motivation to safeguard the NHS, saying "it can never be jeopardised".[6] She has been cancer-free since 2014.[5]

In June 2020, Callaghan's office announced that she had suffered a brain haemorrhage, and had undergone emergency neurosurgery.[7][8] She spent four months recovering in the Physically Disabled Rehabilitation Unit at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.[9][10]

Political career

Prior to her election, she worked as the office manager for MSP Rona Mackay. She has also previously served on the Children's Panel.[5]

She was selected as the Scottish National Party's candidate for the seat of East Dunbartonshire in September 2019.[11] At the December 2019 general election, Callaghan won the seat, beating the incumbent MP and Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson.[12]

In January 2020, she was selected as the SNP's Spokesperson for Pensions and Intergenerational Affairs.[13] In March 2020, she was selected as a member of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee.[14] She was later discharged from the Committee in June 2020.[15]

References
  1. https://www.twitter.com/AmyCallaghanSNP/status/1263508154152890368
  2. "WATCH: Amy Callaghan's 'brilliant' maiden speech as SNP MP". The National. Retrieved 2 April 2020. The 27-year-old, who unseated then Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson in the General Election in December, spoke about Scottish independence and protecting the NHS from the Tories.
  3. "Dunbartonshire East parliamentary constituency - Election 2019" – via www.bbc.com.
  4. Walker, Peter; Murphy, Simon; Brooks, Libby (13 December 2019). "Jo Swinson quits as Lib Dem leader after losing her own seat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  5. Diamond, Claire (17 December 2019). "Election 2019: Who is the young SNP MP who beat Jo Swinson?". BBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  6. "General Election 2019: Who is Amy Callaghan, the MSP who beat Jo Swinson?". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. Office of Amy Callaghan [@AmyCallaghanSNP] (15 June 2020). "Statement from the Office of Amy Callaghan MP" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020 – via Twitter.
  8. "SNP MP Amy Callaghan suffers brain haemorrhage". BBC News. 15 June 2020. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  9. "SNP MP Amy Callaghan out of hospital after brain haemorrhage". BBC News. BBC. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  10. @amycallaghansnp (15 October 2020). "After 4 months in hospital, today I've been discharged. I'm coming home. To the miracle team at @NHSGGC PDRU - now my second family - thank you. I can never, ever repay you. I was wheeled in here. Now I'm walking out. I'm just getting started too" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  11. "SNP choose candidate to fight East Dunbartonshire seat". Kirkintilloch Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  12. Diamond, Claire (17 December 2019). "Who is the young SNP MP who beat Jo Swinson?". BBC News. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  13. "These are the big changes as the SNP Westminster team reshuffles". The National. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  14. "Health and Social Care Committee membership agreed - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  15. "Business without Debate - Hansard". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Jo Swinson		 Member of Parliament
for East Dunbartonshire
2019–present		 Incumbent


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