Jennifer Margaret Marra(born 6 November 1977) is a Scottish politician who served as convener of thePublic Audit Committee.A member of theScottish Labour Party,she was aMember of the Scottish Parliament(MSP) for theNorth East Scotlandregion from2011to2021.
Jenny Marra | |
|---|---|
 Marra in 2019 | |
| Convener of thePublic Audit Committee | |
| In office 29 September 2016 – 23 June 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh Henry |
| Succeeded by | Richard Leonard |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament forNorth East Scotland (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) | |
| In office 5 May 2011 – 8 May 2021 | |
| Scottish Labour portfolios | |
| 2015–2016 | Shadow Minister for Equalities |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jennifer Margaret Marra 6 November 1977 Dundee,Scotland |
| Political party | Scottish Labour |
| Spouse |
John Thomson (m.2016) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews Emory University University of Dundee |
Early life and education
editMarra was born on 6 November 1977 inDundeeto Eileen Margaret and Nicholas James Marra. She attendedSt John's High Schoolin Dundee before going on to study history at theUniversity of St Andrews,graduating in 1999 with an MA in modern history.[1]
She won a scholarship toEmory UniversityinAtlanta, Georgia,after which she returned to her home town and spent five years promoting Dundee as a location for students, research and investment asHead of Pressat theUniversity of Dundee.[2]In 2008, she graduated from theUniversity of Glasgowwith an LLB, and in 2009 received a graduate diploma in law fromBPP Universityin London. In 2010, she graduated with a Diploma in Legal Practice from theUniversity of Dundee.[1]
Political career
editAfter a stint as theLabour MEPsspokesperson inBrusselsandStrasbourg,Marra took aScots lawdegree and qualified in both Scots andEnglish lawandScottish legal practice.She is member of theGMB,CommunityandAmnesty International.[3]She was Labour'sShadowCabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport from 2014 until 2016.[4]In addition to her party posts, Marra was also the Convenor for the Cross Party Group onDeafness.[4]
In the2014 Scottish Labour Party leadership election,Marra acted as co-chair ofJim Murphy’s campaign.[5]
At the2016 Scottish Parliament election,Marra stood forDundee City Westconstituency and finished behindJoe Fitzpatrick,then she was returned to parliament as a list MSP.[6]She is currently the Convener of the Scottish Committee for Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny.[7][8]
Marra argued that the Labour Party should attempt to blockBrexitin the House of Commons.[8]
In November 2019, it was announced that Marra andScottish National PartyMSPJoan McAlpinewould be hosting an event on behalf of the "Women's Human Rights Campaign",an international campaign that launched inNew Yorkin March 2019. The campaign's self-declared focus is on "the importance of keeping the current sex based definition of woman". The announcement was met with criticism from some feminist and LGBT groups, including Engender, The Equality Network and the Scottish Trans Alliance, who expressed their concerns that the Campaign's aims would breach Human Rights law, and in particular the rights of transgender people. However, a spokeswoman for the Campaign reiterated that their aim was to "re-affirm women’s sex-based rights, as set out in international human rights documents".[9]
In September 2020, Marra became the first Labour MSP to call forRichard Leonardto quit as Scottish Labour leader. She said "If we do not change course now we risk catastrophe. The reality is that you only have a short window in political leadership to make an impression on the public. After three years the party’s standing is getting worse rather than better. No one can say that Richard has not had opportunities to turn the situation around. Richard’s leadership was tied from the start to the disaster ofJeremy Corbyn's project. It remains so in the public's view and they simply will not give the party a hearing as things stand. "[10]
On 28 November 2020, Marra announced that she would not stand in the2021 Scottish Parliament election,stating "I have decided that my role as an MSP takes me away from my young children during the week in Edinburgh but also at evening meetings and weekend commitments".[11]
Marra nominatedAnas Sarwarin the2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[12]
Personal life
editMarra is a niece of musicianMichael Marra.[13]Her brother isMichael Marra,who replaced his sister as Labour MSP for North East Scotland in 2021.
In May 2016, Marra married John Thomson of the newspaper groupDC Thomson;[citation needed]they have two children.[8][11]
References
edit- ^ab"Marra, Jennifer Margaret, (born 6 November 1977), Member (Lab) Scotland North East, Scottish Parliament, since 2011",Who's Who,Oxford University Press, 1 December 2012,doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u255727,ISBN978-0-19-954088-4,retrieved18 April2020
- ^Jenny Marra's websiteArchived22 March 2014 at theWayback Machine
- ^Jenny Marra MSPArchived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machine
- ^abThe Scottish Parliament profile of Jenny MarraArchived20 April 2014 at theWayback Machine
- ^Douglas Dickie (7 November 2014)."Scottish Labour Leadership: Rutherglen MSP gives his backing to Jim Murphy MP in leadership race".Daily Record.Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2014.Retrieved10 November2014.
- ^"Holyrood 2016: SNP hold Tayside and Central seats".BBC News.BBC. 6 May 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 9 May 2016.Retrieved6 May2016.
- ^"Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee".Scottish Parliament.Archivedfrom the original on 1 May 2017.Retrieved18 April2020.
- ^abcAndrews, Kieran (7 January 2018)."Who will guard the guards? MSP Jenny Marra promises to hold the powerful to account".The Sunday Post.Retrieved3 September2020.
- ^Davidson, Emma (6 November 2019)."Women's rights declaration sparks accusations of discrimination".The Scotsman.Retrieved2 December2019.
- ^Andrews, Kieran."Labour MSP breaks ranks to demand Richard Leonard's departure".The Times.ISSN0140-0460.Retrieved28 December2020.
- ^abMarra, Jenny (28 November 2020)."I have taken the very difficult decision not to seek re-election in May. My commitment to @scottishlabour is undiminished. The last ten years serving Dundee and NE Scotland have been a privilege".Twitter.Retrieved7 December2020.
- ^"Scottish Leadership Election 2021 - Nominations".Scottish Labour.Archived fromthe originalon 16 April 2023.Retrieved26 January2021.
- ^"Dundee musician Michael Marra dies following battle with illness".STV.Archivedfrom the original on 25 February 2014.Retrieved19 February2014.
External links
edit- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs:Jenny Marra