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 | |
---|---|
Minister for Children and Young People | |
In office 20 May 2021 – 29 March 2023 | |
First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
Preceded by | Maree Todd |
Succeeded by | Natalie Don |
Minister for Mental Health | |
In office 27 June 2018 – 20 May 2021 | |
First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
Preceded by | Maureen Watt |
Succeeded by | Kevin Stewart |
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Rutherglen | |
Assumed office 5 May 2016 | |
Preceded by | James Kelly |
Majority | 5,166 (12.8%)[1] |
Personal details | |
Born | Clare Joan Donnelly April 1967 (age 56–57) Glasgow, Scotland[2] |
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Website | clarehaughey |
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]
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.