Mothers & Fathers of the House


saltire shield'We're All Right! We're All Right! We're All Right!'
Labour leader Neil Kinnock's jubilent victory chant on the eve of the 1992 general election - which Labour lost.
Lion Rampant

Date of Election to Westminister Parliament

Date # MPs MPs
1982 (by-election)1Tom Clarke
19833Gordon Brown, Malcolm Bruce, Charles Kennedy,
19874Menzies Campbell, Alistair Darling, Frank Doran1, Jimmy Hood
19923Michael Connarty, Ian Davidson, Brian Donohoe
19978Anne Begg, Russell Brown, Anne McGuire, Michael Moore, Jim Murphy, Sandra Osborne, Frank Roy, Sir Robert Smith,
Nov 1997 (by-election)1Douglas Alexander
Nov 2000 (by-election)1John Robertson
Dec 2000 (by-election)1Major Eric Joyce
200112David Cairns, Alistair Carmichael, David Hamilton, Tom Harris, Mark Lazarowicz, Ann McKechin, Alan Reid, Angus Robertson, Jim Sheridan, John Sinclair 3 rd Viscount Thurso, Michael Weir, Pete Wishart
20058Daniel Alexander, Gordon Banks, Katy Clark, Stewart Hosie, Angus B. MacNeil, David Mundell2, Jo Swinson, James McGovern
Nov 2008 (by-election)1Lindsay Roy
Nov 2009 (by-election)1William Bain
201015Margaret Curran3, Michael Crockart, Thomas Docherty, Gemma Doyle, Sheila Gilmore, Tom Greatrex, Cathy Jamieson4, Michael McCann, Gregg McClymont, Graeme Morrice, Ian Murray, Pamela Nash, Fiona O'Donnell, Anas Sarwar, Eilidh Whiteford
1 Not an MP continually since first elected.
2David Mundell was a Conservative MSP for the South of Scotland region from 1999 until he was elected to Westminster in 2005.
3Margaret Curran has been MSP for Glasgow Baillieston since 1999.
4 Cathy Jamieson has been MSP for Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley since 1999

Longest Serving Current Scottish Members Of the Westminster Parliament

Rank Photo MP Born Logo Party Term Constituencies
1 Tom Clarke Rt Hon Tom Clarke 10 Jan 1941 Labour Jun 1982 (by-election) - 1983Coatbridge & Airdrie
1983 - 1997Monklands West
1997 - 2005Coatbridge & Chryston
2005 - Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill
2 = Gordon Brown Rt Hon Dr James Gordon Brown 20 February 1951 Labour 1983 - 2005 Dunfermline East
2005 - Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath
2 = Malcolm Bruce Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce 17 November 1944 Lib/ SLD/ Liberal Democrat 1983 - Gordon
2 = Charles Kennedy Rt Hon Charles Kennedy 25 November 1959 SDP/ SLD/ Liberal Democrat 1983 - 1997 Ross, Cromarty & Skye
1997 - 2005Ross, Skye & Inverness West
2005 -Ross, Skye & Lochabert
5 = Menzies Campbell Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC 22 May 1941 Lib/ SLD/ Liberal Democrat 1987 - Fife North East
5 = Alistair Darling Rt Hon Alistair Darling 28 November 1953 Labour 1987 - 2005 Edinburgh Central
2005 - Edinburgh South West
5 = James Hood James Hood 7 December 1948 Labour 1987 - 2005 Clydesdale
2005 - Lanark & Hamilton East
8 = Michael Connarty Michael Connarty 3 September 1947 Labour 1992 - 2005 Falkirk East
2005 - Linlithgow & East Falkirk
8 = Ian Davidson Ian Davidson 8 September 1950 Labour 1992 - 1997 Glasgow Govan
1997 - 2005Glasgow Pollok
2005 -Glasgow South West
8 = Brian Dohohoe Brian Donohoe 10 September 1948 Labour 1992 - 2005 Cunninghame South
2005 - Central Ayrshire
11 Frank Doran Frank Doran 13 April 1950 Labour 1987 - 1992Aberdeen South
1997 - 2005 Aberdeen Central
2005 - Aberdeen North
12 = Anne Begg Anne Begg 6 Dec 1955 Labour 1997 - Aberdeen South
12 = Russell Brown Russell Brown 17 September 1951 Labour 1997 - 2005 Dumfries
2005 - Dumfries & Galloway
12 = Anne McGuire Rt Hon Anne McGuire 26 May 1949 Labour 1997 - Stirling
12 = Michael Moore Michael Moore 3 June 1965 Liberal Democrat 1997 - 2005 Tweedale, Ettrick & Lauderdale
2005 - Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk
12 = Jim Murphy Rt Hon Jim Murphy 23 August 1967 Labour 1997 - 2005 Eastwood
2005 - East Renfrewshire
12 = Sandra Osborne Sandra Osborne 23 February 1956 Labour 1997 - 2005 Ayr
2005 - Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock
12 = Frank Roy Frank Roy 29 August 1958 Labour 1997 - Motherwell & Wishaw
12 = Robert Smith Sir Robert Smith Bt. 15 April 1958 Liberal Democrat 1997 - Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine
20 Douglas Alexander Rt Hon Douglas Alexander 26 October 1967 Labour Nov 1997 (by-election) - 2005 Paisley South
2005 - Paisley & Renfrewshire South
21 John Robertson John Robertson 17 April 1952 Labour Nov 2000 (by-election) - 2005 Glasgow Anniesland
2005 - Glasgow North West
22 Eric Joyce Major Eric Joyce 13 October 1960 Labour Dec 2000 (by-election) - 2005 Falkirk West
2005 - Falkirk
23 = David Cairns Father David Cairns 7 August 1966 Labour 2001 - 2005 Greenock & Inverclyde
2005 - Inverclyde
23 = Alistair Carmichael Alistair Carmichael 15 July 1965 Liberal Democrat 2001 - Orkney & Shetland
23 = David Hamilton David Hamilton 24 October 1950 Labour 2001 - Midlothian
23 = Tom Harris Tom Harris 20 February 1964 Labour 2001 - 2005 Glasgow Cathcart
2005 - Glasgow South
23 = Marek Lazarowicz Marek Lazarowicz 8 August 1953 Labour 2001 - Edinburgh North & Leith
23 = Anne McKechin Ann McKechin 22 April 1961 Labour 2001 - 2005 Glasgow Maryhill
2005 - Glasgow North
23 = Alan Reid Alan Reid 7 August 1954 Liberal Democrat 2001 - Argyll & Bute
23 = Angus Robertson Angus Robertson 28 September 1969 Scottish National Party 2001 - Moray
23 = Jim Sheridan Jim Sheridan 24 November 1952 Labour 2001 - 2005 Renfrewshire West
2005 - Paisley & Renfrewshire North
23 = John Sinclair Sir John Sinclair, Bt., 3 rd Viscount Thurso 10 September 1953 Liberal Democrat 2001 - Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross
23 = Michael Weir Michael Weir 24 March 1957 Scottish National Party 2001 - Angus
23 = Pete Wishart Pete Wishart 9 March 1962 Scottish National Party 2001 - 2005 Tayside North
2005 - Perth & North Perthshire
35 = Danny Alexander Daniel Alexander 15 May 1972 Liberal Democrat 2005 - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey
35 = Gordon Banks Gordon Banks 14 June 1955 Labour 2005 - Ochil & South Perthshire
35 = Katy Clark Katy Clark 3 July 1967 Labour 2005 - North Ayrshire & Arran
35 = Stewart Hosie Stewart Hosie 3 January 1963 Scottish National Party 2005 - Dundee East
35 = Angus B. MacNeil Angus B. MacNeil 21 July 1970 Scottish National Party 2005 - Na h-Eileanan An Iar (Western Isles)
35 = David Mundell David Mundel 27 May 1962 Conservative & Unionist 2005 - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale
35 = Jo Swinson Jo Swinson 5 Feb 1980 Liberal Democrat 2005 - East Dunbartonshire
35 = James McGovern James McGovern 17 November 1956 Labour 2005 - Dundee West
43 Lindsay Roy CBE Lindsay Roy CBE ? Labour Nov 2008 (by-election) - Glenrothes
44 William Bain William Bain ? Labour Nov 2009 (by-election) - Glasgow North East
45 = Margaret Curran Margaret Curran ? Labour 2010 - Glasgow East
45 = Mike Crockhart Mike Crockhart 2010 Liberal Democrat 2010 - Edinburgh West
45 = Thomas Docherty Thomas Docherty ? Labour 2010 - Dunfermline & West Fife
45 = Gemma Doyle Gemma Doyle ? Labour 2010 - Dunbartonshire West
45 = Sheila Gilmore Sheila Gilmore ? Labour 2010 - Edinburgh East
45 = Tom Greatrex Tom Greatrex ? Labour 2010 - Rutherglen & Hamilton West
45 = Cathy Jamieson Cathy Jamieson ? Labour 2010 - Kilmarnock & Loudoun
45 = Michael McCann Michael McCann ? Labour 2010 - East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow
45 = Gregg McClymont Gregg McClymont ? Labour 2010 - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East
45 = Graeme Morrice Graeme Morrice ? Labour 2010 - Livingston
45 = Ian Murray Ian Murray ? Labour 2010 - Edinburgh South
45 = Pamela Nash Pamela Nash ? Labour 2010 - Airdrie & Shotts
45 = Pamela Nash Fiona O'Donnell ? Labour 2010 - East Lothian
45 = Anas Sarwar Anas Sarwar ? Labour 2010 - Glasgow Central
45 = Eilidh Whiteford Eilidh Whiteford ? Scottish National Party 2010 - Banff & Buchan

The longest serving Scottish (and British MP) of the 20 th century was the Conservative Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill who served for 61 years 332 days. He was Liberal MP for Dundee (a two-member constituency) between a by-election on 9 th May 1908 and the general election on 15 th November 1922 when he was defeated by Labour and the prohibitionist Ernest Scrymgeour.

The longest serving MP and Father of the House in the 1997-2001 parliament was the ex-Conservative Prime Minister, Sir Edward Health who represented various manifestations of Old Bexley & Sidcup continually since the 1950 General election. In March 2000 he celebrated 50 years as an MP. Sir Edward retired in 2001.

The longest serving MP in the 2001-2005 parliament was Sir Thomas (Tam) Dalyell of the Binns who represented West Lothian from the by-election of 14 th June 1962 until the constituency was abolished in 1983, and Linlithgow since then. After the 2001 General election, he became the new Father of the House of Commons.

The longest serving Scottish MP in the 2005-2010 parliament was the Rt Hon Dr Gavin Strang who was elected for Edinburgh East at the 1970 Westminster election. The second longest serving Scottish MP was the Rt Hon Robin Cook, who was elected in February 1974, died on 6 th August 2005 while hillwalking in Sutherland.

I am grateful to Niniane Mackenzie and Dr Aidan Thomson for supplying additional information for this page.


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