Wikipedia

Kaukab Stewart

Kaukab Stewart(born 1967 or 1968)[2]is a Pakistani-born Scottish politician who has served asMinister for Equalitiessince May 2024.[3]A member of theScottish National Party(SNP), she has been theMember of the Scottish Parliament(MSP) forGlasgow KelvinsinceMay 2021.

Kaukab Stewart
MSP
Stewart in 2024
Minister for Equalities
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2024
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byEmma Roddick
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
In office
20 February 2024 – 8 May 2024
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Preceded byChristina McKelvie
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of the Scottish Parliament
forGlasgow Kelvin
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2021
Preceded bySandra White
Majority5,458 (15.1%)
Personal details
Born1967/68 (age 55-56)
Pakistan[1]
Political partyScottish National Party
SpouseRichard Stewart
Children2
ProfessionEducator
Websitekaukabstewart.scot

At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, she became one of the first women of colour elected to theScottish Parliament,alongsidePam Gosal.[4][5]

Early life and career

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Stewart was born to Pakistani parents inPakistan[6]and moved with her family toNorthampton,England when she was two years old, where she attendedNorthampton School for Girls.She then moved toGlasgow,Scotland, aged sixteen[7]and attendedBellahouston AcademyinGlasgowandMoray House School of EducationinEdinburgh.[8]

Prior to her election, she worked as a primary school teacher for nearly 30 years,[9][10]alongside pursuing a political career, which she earlier admitted as challenging even with a "sympathetic headteacher....you have a duty to the kids, who must come first."[11]

She married Richard Stewart[12]on 14 September 1989.[13]They have two children.[8]

Political career

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Stewart joined the Scottish National Party in 1994. "For me it is all about the fact that I was always a supporter of equal rights and self-determination," she explained. "I always wanted control over my own affairs and it was a natural progression to put that into a Scotland context. To be able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it and how you want to do it is very important to me."[7]

She stood unsuccessfully as a SNP candidate in the first Scottish Parliament election sincedevolution,againstDonald DewarforGlasgow Annieslandat the1999 Scottish Parliament election.[14][15]Eleven years later, she stood unsuccessfully against formerChancellor of the ExchequerAlistair Darlingat the2010 general election.[16][17]Speaking about these experiences in September 2020, Stewart said: "In these elections I knew my chances of being elected were close to zero but it was that dream of a better nation which inspired me to carry on... It's thanks to the hard work of the activists I worked with then that we are where we are today."[18]

On 6 November 2020, Stewart was selected as the SNP candidate inGlasgow Kelvinfor the2021 Scottish Parliament election.[19]At the election, she was elected as Kelvin'sMember of the Scottish Parliament(MSP) with a majority of 5,458 votes.[20]Her election was noted in the UK press and abroad, such asThe Japan TimesandLe Parisien.[21][22]

Stewart was appointed in June 2021 as deputy convenor of the Holyrood education committee which scrutinises Scottish education policy and its lead bodies.[23]In the same year she was interviewed forChannel 4The Political Sloton her party's vision for equality in Scotland.[6]

In January 2023, she was one of a number of Scottish politicians who drew media attention and criticism after being photographed smiling in front of a sign reading 'Decapitate TERFs' and a drawing of a guillotine at a Glasgow rally.[24]She subsequently claimed that she had not seen the sign in question and commented that "Violent hate speech is totally unacceptable and has absolutely no place in our public discourse."[25]This explanation met with some ridicule, including from the author J.K. Rowling, who commented, "I too beam with delight when having my photograph taken with things of which I am entirely unaware".[26]The sign was reported to Police Scotland.[27]Fellow MSP Murdo Fraser described the sign as "clearly a hate crime and a public order offence".[28]

Stewart was appointedMinister for Culture, Europe and International Developmentin thefirst Yousaf governmentfollowing a reshuffle in February 2024.[29][30]She was later appointedMinister for Equalitiesin theSwinney government.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Women Leading the Way in Politics with Kaukab Stewart MSP".The Fawcett Society.
  2. ^Williams, Craig (22 March 2021)."The women who hope to break the mould of Scottish politics".BBC Scotland.Retrieved29 August2021.The 53-year-old teacher is standing for the SNP in Glasgow Kelvin.
  3. ^"Full ministerial team confirmed".gov.scot.Retrieved9 May2024.
  4. ^"Scottish election 2021: First women of colour elected to Holyrood".BBC News.8 May 2021.Retrieved4 August2021.
  5. ^Bradley, Jane (9 May 2021)."'It has taken too long but to all women and girls of colour out there - the Scottish Parliament belongs to you too'".The Scotsman.Retrieved4 August2021.
  6. ^abThe SNP [@theSNP] (29 July 2021)."@KaukabStewart was the first woman of colour to be elected to the Scottish Parliament, in May's election.
    With the full powers of independence, we can build a fairer, more equal Scotland - and maximise our potential.
    Watch the SNP's Political Slot with @Channel4 "    (Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  7. ^abStewart, Graeme (7 December 1998)."Eastern Promise; The Nats select an Asian-born woman to fight Dewar for seat".Daily Mirror.London, England.Retrieved24 May2022.
  8. ^ab"VOTE 2001 CANDIDATES".BBC News.2001.Retrieved10 May2021.
  9. ^Hunter, Catherine (21 April 2021)."Meet the candidates for Glasgow Kelvin".Glasgow Times.Retrieved8 May2021.
  10. ^Buaras, Elham Assad (27 November 2020)."Holyrood set to welcome first Muslim/ BAME woman MSP".The Muslim News.Retrieved4 August2021.
  11. ^Hepburn, Henry (8 May 2021)."Teacher is first woman of colour elected as MSP".Tes.Retrieved4 August2021.
  12. ^Cumming, John [@johncummingSNP] (14 September 2020)."Happy anniversary to yourself and Richard! Enjoy the rest of your day!"(Tweet).Retrieved12 January2022– viaTwitter.
  13. ^Stewart, Kaukab [@kaukabstewart] (14 September 2020)."On a personal note...its my 31st wedding anniversary today, bless my class who didn't think I looked old enough to be married that long!"(Tweet).Retrieved26 July2022– viaTwitter.
  14. ^"Dewar faces everything he is not".The Herald.25 September 1998.Retrieved28 February2022.
  15. ^Ritchie, Murray (2000).Scotland reclaimed: the inside story of Scotland's first democratic parliamentary election.Saltire Society. Edinburgh: Saltire Society. p. 223.ISBN0-85411-077-1.OCLC44603592.
  16. ^"Electoral Calculus ElectData 2010".Electoral Calculus.Archivedfrom the original on 26 July 2013.Retrieved4 August2021.
  17. ^Davidson, Peter (4 May 2021)."The friendly battle for Glasgow Kelvin and to secure a Holyrood first".Daily Record.Retrieved12 January2022.
  18. ^Nutt, Kathleen (2 September 2020)."SNP activist who took on Donald Dewar enters Holyrood 2021 race".The National.
  19. ^Stewart, Kaukab [@kaukabstewart] (6 November 2020)."I'm truly honoured to have been selected as our @theSNP candidate for Glasgow Kelvin. Thank you to the local members in @SNPKelvin for putting their trust in me.
    Let's move forward together to retain this constituency and win our independence! "    (Tweet).Retrieved24 May2022– viaTwitter.
  20. ^"Scotland Election 2021 > Glasgow Kelvin".BBC News.2021.Retrieved8 May2021.
  21. ^Ross, Tim; Reed, Alastair (9 May 2021)."U.K. elections spark debate over Scottish independence push".The Japan Times (subscription required).Retrieved4 August2021.
  22. ^AFP (8 May 2021)."En Ecosse, les indépendantistes remportent les élections et défient Boris Johnson"[In Scotland, separatists win elections and challenge Boris Johnson].Le Parisien(in French).Retrieved4 August2021.
  23. ^Nutt, Kathleen (24 June 2021)."Tory MSP who removed Gaelic from Holyrood logo appointed education convener".The National.Retrieved25 June2021.
  24. ^Sanderson, Daniel (22 January 2023)."'Decapitate Terfs' signs at pro-trans rally attended by SNP politicians ".The Telegraph.Retrieved14 December2023.
  25. ^Herald Scotland Online (22 January 2023)."Police probe 'decapitate terfs' sign at trans rally".The Herald.Retrieved14 December2023.
  26. ^Herald Scotland Online (22 January 2023)."Police probe 'decapitate terfs' sign at trans rally".The Herald.Retrieved14 December2023.
  27. ^Mitchell, Jenness (23 January 2023)."Scottish politicians and JK Rowling voice anger over 'decapitate terfs' sign at pro-trans rally in Glasgow".Sky News.Retrieved14 December2023.
  28. ^Morrison, Hamish (21 January 2023)."Row erupts as SNP MPs appear near violent sign at Glasgow protest".The National.Retrieved14 December2023.
  29. ^"Meeting of the Parliament, 20 February 2024".parliament.scot.Retrieved13 June2024.
  30. ^Meighan, Craig (8 February 2024)."Neil Gray replaces Matheson as health secretary in Yousaf reshuffle".STV News.Retrieved13 June2024.
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Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish ParliamentforGlasgow Kelvin
2021–present 		Incumbent
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