Clare Joan Haughey (née Donnelly, born April 1967)[3] is a Scottish politician who served as Minister for Children and Young People from 2021 to 2023,[4] having previously served as Minister for Mental Health from 2018 to 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Rutherglen since in the 2016.

Clare Haughey
Official portrait, 2021
Minister for Children and Young People
In office
20 May 2021 – 29 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byMaree Todd
Succeeded byNatalie Don
Minister for Mental Health
In office
27 June 2018 – 20 May 2021
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byMaureen Watt
Succeeded byKevin Stewart
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Rutherglen
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded byJames Kelly
Majority5,166 (12.8%)[1]
Personal details
Born
Clare Joan Donnelly

April 1967 (age 57)
Glasgow, Scotland[2]
Political partyScottish National Party
Websiteclarehaughey.scot

Nursing career

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Haughey trained as a mental health nurse and worked as a clinical nurse manager.[5] Her family were based in Australia for some years.[6]

Political career

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In September 2015, the SNP branch selected her as the candidate for the Rutherglen constituency, ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.[7] The constituency had been held by Labour since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 until the election in May 2016, when Haughey defeated the incumbent James Kelly.[8]

On 27 June 2018, Haughey was appointed as the Scottish Government's Minister for Mental Health.[9]

She retained the Rutherglen seat in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, with an increased majority and just over 50% of the vote share.[10][1]

On 19 May 2021, Haughey was appointed to the new government as Minister for Children and Young People.[11][12]

On 29 March 2023, Haughey was appointed as the Convenor of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.

References

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  1. ^ a b Constituencies A-Z | Rutherglen , BBC News; retrieved 7 May 2021
  2. ^ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  3. ^ "Clare Joan HAUGHEY – Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Here is the full list of every minister in Humza Yousaf's government". The National. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  5. ^ "National accreditation for mother and baby mental health unit in Glasgow". STV News. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  6. ^ Interview: Mental health minister Clare Haughey on finding the strength to carry on after the loss of a child, Mandy Rhodes, Holyrood.com, 3 June 2020
  7. ^ Dickie, Douglas (15 September 2015). "Rutherglen SNP branch select Clare Haughey to fight seat as she accuses Labour of taking area for granted". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Scottish Parliament election 2016 constituency result: Rutherglen". The Scotsman. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Nine new junior ministers appointed to Scottish government". BBC News. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. ^ Scottish election: Blow for Labour as it fails to take Rutherglen target seat, The National, 7 May 2021
  11. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon appoints new health and education secretaries". BBC News. 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021.
  12. ^ New Scottish Cabinet, Scottish Government, 19 May 2021
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Children and Young People
2021–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Minister for Mental Health
2018–2021
Succeeded byas Minister for mental wellbeing and social care
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Rutherglen
2016–present
Incumbent