Brendan O'Hara

Brendan O'Hara (born 27 April 1963)[1] is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Argyll and Bute in 2015. He served as the SNP Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson from 2017 to 2018 and as the SNP Defence spokesperson from 2015 to 2017.

Brendan O'Hara

MP
O'Hara in 2019
SNP Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
In office
20 June 2017 – 17 May 2018
LeaderIan Blackford
Preceded byJohn Nicolson
Succeeded byHannah Bardell
SNP Spokesperson for Defence
In office
20 May 2015 – 20 June 2017
LeaderAngus Robertson
Preceded byAngus Robertson
Succeeded byStewart MacDonald
Member of Parliament
for Argyll and Bute
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byAlan Reid
Majority4,110 (8.6%)
Personal details
Born (1963-04-27) 27 April 1963
Glasgow, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Alma materUniversity of Strathclyde

Early life and education

Born in Glasgow, O'Hara was educated at St. Andrew's Secondary, Carntyne, and attended Strathclyde University from where he graduated with a 2:1 in Economic History and Modern History.[2]

Director and producer

He has had a successful career as a TV producer. He wrote, produced and directed the Road To Referendum documentary series[3] which was broadcast on STV in 2013 and was subsequently nominated for a BAFTA Scotland award in the Current Affairs category.[4] He has worked for STV, Sky Sports and the BBC. His credits include Comedy Connections and Movie Connections (BBC1), The Football Years (STV) and Scotland's Greatest Album (STV). O'Hara is currently working on David Hayman's second series, following in the footsteps of Tom Weir.[2]

Political career

O'Hara was an unsuccessful SNP candidate on two occasions. He contested Glasgow Springburn at the 1987 UK general election receiving 3,554 votes (a 10.2% share). He also stood in Glasgow Central at the 1992 UK general election and gained 6,322 votes (a 20.8% share).

In 2015, he received 22,959 votes (44.3% share) in Argyll & Bute, and unseated the sitting Liberal Democrat MP Alan Reid by 8,473 votes.[5] On 20 May 2015, he was appointed the party's spokesman for defence.[6] He was the first of the 2015 intake to make his maiden speech.[7][8]

At the 2017 snap general election he successfully retained his seat; however, with a reduced majority of 1,328 votes to the Conservative party.[9][10]

At the 2019 snap general election he once again successfully retained his seat with a much higher majority of 4,110[11]

References
  1. Birth certificate of Brendan O'Hara, 27 April 1963, Glasgow District 4379/02 6840 – National Records of Scotland
  2. "Rothesay hustings preview: who are the Argyll and Bute candidates?". The Buteman. Johnston Press. 18 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  3. Borland, Craig (4 February 2015). "O'Hara to fight Argyll and Bute for SNP". The Buteman. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  4. "British Academy Scotland Awards: Winners in 2013". BAFTA Scotland. 17 November 2013. Archived from the original on 11 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  5. "Election 2015: Argyll & Bute Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  6. Keith, Karen (24 May 2015). "Argyll and Bute's MP welcomes Trident safety debate". The Buteman. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  7. "Parliamentary debates". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 27 May 2015. col. 109–111. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  8. "New SNP MPs make maiden House of Commons speeches". BBC News. BBC. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  9. "Argyll & Bute parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  10. "SNP's Brendan O'Hara holds Argyll and Bute – but his majority plummets". Helensburgh Advertiser. Archived from the original on 13 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  11. "Argyll & Bute parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Alan Reid		 Member of Parliament
for Argyll and Bute
2015–present		 Incumbent
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