Hugh Henry (born 12 February 1952) is a former Scottish Labour Party politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Renfrewshire South, formerly Paisley South, from 1999 to 2016.

Hugh Henry
Official portrait, 2006
Convener of the Public Audit Committee
In office
26 September 2007 – 24 March 2016
Preceded byCharlie Gordon
Succeeded byJenny Marra
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Renfrewshire South
Paisley South (1999–2011)
In office
6 May 1999 – 24 March 2016
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byTom Arthur
Personal details
Born (1952-02-12) 12 February 1952 (age 72)
Glasgow, Scotland
Political partyScottish Labour
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow

Background

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Henry was born in Glasgow and raised in Erskine, Renfrewshire. He was educated at St Mirin's Academy in Paisley, the University of Glasgow and Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow. Prior to working in politics, he worked as an accountant with IBM UK Ltd, as a teacher and as a welfare rights officer with Strathclyde Regional Council. He was a local councillor from 1984 until 1999, including 4 years as leader of Renfrewshire Council. A former Marxist, he was once a supporter of the Militant tendency.[1]

Member of the Scottish Parliament

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Official parliamentary portrait, 2011

Henry was appointed Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care in the Scottish Executive in 2001, and moved to become Deputy Minister for Social Justice in 2002. He was appointed Deputy Minister for Justice after the 2003 Scottish Parliament election, and became Minister for Education in 2006. He retained the education brief in opposition after the 2007 election. Henry was named Scottish Politician of the Year in 2010, for his performance as Convenor of the Public Affairs Committee. On 11 May 2011, Henry stood in the election for the 4th Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, coming second to Tricia Marwick, a Scottish National Party MSP. He stood down from the Scottish Parliament on 23 March 2016.

Personal life

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Henry is married with two daughters and one son.

References

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  1. ^ "Sleaze row hits McConnell's man Henry". The Scotsman. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
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Scottish Parliament
New parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Paisley South
19992011
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire South
20112016
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Education and Young People
2006–2007
Succeeded by
Fiona Hyslop
as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
Preceded by Deputy Minister for Justice
2002–2006
Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care
2001–2002
Succeeded by