Anne Begg
Encyclopedia
Dame Anne Begg, DBE
(born 6 December 1955) is a British
Labour Party
politician
, who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Aberdeen South
since 1997
. Begg is the first permanent wheelchair
user in the House of Commons.
on Duke Street (both also attended by Sir Robert Watson-Watt
), and the University of Aberdeen
where she earned an MA
in History
and Politics
. From Aberdeen College of Education (merged with the Dundee College of Education in 1987 to become the Northern College of Education then became the Faculty of Education of the University of Aberdeen in December 2001), she gained a Secondary Teaching Certificate in 1978.
From 1978 she taught history and English
at the Webster's High School
in Kirriemuir
. She joined the Labour Party in 1983. In 1988 she became the principal teacher of English at the Arbroath
Academy. In the same year she won the Disabled Scot of the Year Award.
Begg was selected to stand for election for Labour through an all-women shortlist
. This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws, Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election. Aberdeen South like many seats fell to Labour in their landslide
victory at the 1997 general election
. She defeated the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scottish Office
Raymond Robertson
. In 2001, she became the first Labour MP to retain the Aberdeen South seat.
Begg has been a wheelchair
user since 1984 as she lives with the degenerative Gaucher's disease
. She was the first full-time user of a wheelchair elected to the House of Commons. She made her maiden speech
on 21 May 1997. She is currently Secretary of the All-Party BBC
Group and Chair of the All Party Group on Equalities, the All Party Oil and Gas Industry Group, the All Party Group on Chronic Pain, and the All Party Commercial Radio group. She is also currently a member of the House of Commons Chairmen’s Panel and has recently been appointed to be Vice Chair of the recently instituted Speaker's Conference which is tasked with looking at the under representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in the House of Commons.
Since July 2010 she has chaired the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
. In March 2002, she voted to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs. She voted in favour of the NHS Foundation Trust
proposal and against the replacement of the Trident system
.
She voted in favour of adding clauses to a bill that allow the Secretary of State to detain indefinitely, pending deportation, anyone he suspects is a terrorist, even if the law forbids that person's deportation from ever taking place. She voted against only allowing people detained at a police station to be fingerprinted and searched for an identifying birthmark if it is in connection with a terrorism investigation.
In March 2003, she voted against the declaration of war against Iraq
. In June 2003, she voted against a motion that would have recalled the Prime Minister's assertion that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that could be used at 45 minutes' notice, and launching an independent inquiry into the intelligence received and the decisions that were based on it. In June 2007, she voted against a motion calling for an independent inquiry by a committee of Privy Counsellors
into the Iraq War.
In November 2008, Begg was one of 18 MPs who signed a Commons motion backing a Team GB football team at the 2012 Olympics, saying football "should not be any different from other competing sports and our young talent should be allowed to show their skills on the world stage". The football governing bodies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all opposed to a Great Britain team, fearing it would stop them competing as individual nations in future tournaments.
During the 2009 MP's expenses scandal, Begg was one of the first Scottish MPs to take the step of publishing all of her claims under the Additional Costs Allowance on her website before they were released by the House of Commons authorities saying that it was "important people can see how MPs spend taxpayers’ money."
In June 2011, Begg crossed swords with Philip Davies
, Conservative MP for Shipley, over the issue of paying those in the disabled category less than the minimum wage
. Davies was allegedly representing the views of constituents in the mental health sector, anxious to get a foothold on the earnings ladder, but Begg saw this as an attempt to discriminate against disabled people. The story was shortlived, and perhaps therefore failed to attract the level of national (and indeed international) debate it deserves.
She has also taken the lead in lobbying the government on issues such as the Seafarer's Earnings Deduction and compensation for trawlermen who lost their livelihoods during the Cod Wars. In the 2009 Budget, Begg also won a concession from the Chancellor of the Exchequer
, Alistair Darling
MP
,that "those caring responsibilities of grandparents of working age will count towards their entitlement to the basic state pension." Begg had campaigned for grandparents of working age to receive National Insurance Credits in recognition of the fact that their caring role may impact on their contributions to their state pension entitlement.
On the floor of the House of Commons, Begg has also vehemently criticised fraudsters who take advantage of vulnerable people in her constituency through the use of mail scams and pyramid schemes.
Begg also wrote to the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond
requesting a change to the house buying system in Scotland
. She also criticized plans to close an Aberdeen school 18 months after it had been saved, saying that they were "closing the school by stealth."
. Begg was forced to stay in hospital for three months as a result of her injuries.
She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to disabled people and to equal opportunities.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 6 December 1955) is a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Aberdeen South
Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
since 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
. Begg is the first permanent wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
user in the House of Commons.
Education and career
Begg was educated at the Damacre Primary School in Brechin; Brechin High SchoolBrechin High School
Brechin High School is a non-denominational secondary school in Brechin, Angus, Scotland.-Admissions:It has approximately 660 students, and a staff of 50...
on Duke Street (both also attended by Sir Robert Watson-Watt
Robert Watson-Watt
Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt, KCB, FRS, FRAeS is considered by many to be the "inventor of radar". Development of radar, initially nameless, was first started elsewhere but greatly expanded on 1 September 1936 when Watson-Watt became...
), and the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
where she earned an MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and Politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. From Aberdeen College of Education (merged with the Dundee College of Education in 1987 to become the Northern College of Education then became the Faculty of Education of the University of Aberdeen in December 2001), she gained a Secondary Teaching Certificate in 1978.
From 1978 she taught history and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the Webster's High School
Webster's High School
Webster's High School is a secondary school in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland.-Subjects:Webster's High School offers a large and wide range of subjects....
in Kirriemuir
Kirriemuir
Kirriemuir, sometimes called Kirrie, is a burgh in Angus, Scotland.-History:The history of Kirriemuir extends to the early historical period and it appears to have been a centre of some ecclesiastical importance...
. She joined the Labour Party in 1983. In 1988 she became the principal teacher of English at the Arbroath
Arbroath
Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus in Scotland, and has a population of 22,785...
Academy. In the same year she won the Disabled Scot of the Year Award.
Begg was selected to stand for election for Labour through an all-women shortlist
All-women shortlists
The use of all-women shortlists is the political practice intended to increase the proportion of female Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom by allowing only women to stand in particular constituencies for a particular political party. Though the practice is available to all parties, only...
. This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws, Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election. Aberdeen South like many seats fell to Labour in their landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
victory at the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
. She defeated the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scottish Office
Scottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
Raymond Robertson
Raymond Robertson (politician)
Raymond Scott Robertson and was educated at Glasgow University, graduating Master of Arts with Honours in Modern History and Politics. During the 1980s he taught Modern Studies at Dumbarton Academy...
. In 2001, she became the first Labour MP to retain the Aberdeen South seat.
Begg has been a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
user since 1984 as she lives with the degenerative Gaucher's disease
Gaucher's disease
Gaucher's disease is a genetic disease in which a fatty substance accumulates in cells and certain organs.Gaucher's disease is the most common of the lysosomal storage diseases. It is caused by a hereditary deficiency of the enzyme glucosylceramidase. The enzyme acts on the fatty acid...
. She was the first full-time user of a wheelchair elected to the House of Commons. She made her maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
on 21 May 1997. She is currently Secretary of the All-Party BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Group and Chair of the All Party Group on Equalities, the All Party Oil and Gas Industry Group, the All Party Group on Chronic Pain, and the All Party Commercial Radio group. She is also currently a member of the House of Commons Chairmen’s Panel and has recently been appointed to be Vice Chair of the recently instituted Speaker's Conference which is tasked with looking at the under representation of women, ethnic minorities and disabled people in the House of Commons.
Since July 2010 she has chaired the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
Votes and political views
Begg voted in favour of a bill that banned smoking in restaurants in April 2003. In December 2004 and October 2005, she voted in favour of the Identity Cards Bill. She voted in favour of allowing unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples to adopt, and in favour of the Civil Partnership BillCivil Partnership Act 2004
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Bill for this Act was introduced by the Labour government and supported by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition. The Act grants civil partnerships in the United Kingdom with rights and...
. In March 2002, she voted to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs. She voted in favour of the NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Foundation Trust
An NHS foundation trust is part of the National Health Service in England and has gained a degree of independence from the Department of Health and local NHS strategic health authority.Foundation Trusts are represented by the , .-Function:...
proposal and against the replacement of the Trident system
British replacement of the Trident system
The British replacement of Trident is a proposal to replace the existing Vanguard class of four Trident ballistic-missile armed submarines with a new class designed to continue a nuclear deterrent after the current boats reach the end of their service lives...
.
She voted in favour of adding clauses to a bill that allow the Secretary of State to detain indefinitely, pending deportation, anyone he suspects is a terrorist, even if the law forbids that person's deportation from ever taking place. She voted against only allowing people detained at a police station to be fingerprinted and searched for an identifying birthmark if it is in connection with a terrorism investigation.
In March 2003, she voted against the declaration of war against Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. In June 2003, she voted against a motion that would have recalled the Prime Minister's assertion that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that could be used at 45 minutes' notice, and launching an independent inquiry into the intelligence received and the decisions that were based on it. In June 2007, she voted against a motion calling for an independent inquiry by a committee of Privy Counsellors
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
into the Iraq War.
In November 2008, Begg was one of 18 MPs who signed a Commons motion backing a Team GB football team at the 2012 Olympics, saying football "should not be any different from other competing sports and our young talent should be allowed to show their skills on the world stage". The football governing bodies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all opposed to a Great Britain team, fearing it would stop them competing as individual nations in future tournaments.
During the 2009 MP's expenses scandal, Begg was one of the first Scottish MPs to take the step of publishing all of her claims under the Additional Costs Allowance on her website before they were released by the House of Commons authorities saying that it was "important people can see how MPs spend taxpayers’ money."
In June 2011, Begg crossed swords with Philip Davies
Philip Davies
Philip Andrew Davies is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Shipley in West Yorkshire.-Early life:...
, Conservative MP for Shipley, over the issue of paying those in the disabled category less than the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
. Davies was allegedly representing the views of constituents in the mental health sector, anxious to get a foothold on the earnings ladder, but Begg saw this as an attempt to discriminate against disabled people. The story was shortlived, and perhaps therefore failed to attract the level of national (and indeed international) debate it deserves.
National campaigns
Begg is a vocal campaigner for allowing embryonic stem cells to be used in the research for treatments of diseases, including currently incurable conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. She has also been heavily involved in lobbying the Department of Health against an all-out ban on the pain-relief drug co-proxamol, used by many people who suffer from chronic pain conditions.She has also taken the lead in lobbying the government on issues such as the Seafarer's Earnings Deduction and compensation for trawlermen who lost their livelihoods during the Cod Wars. In the 2009 Budget, Begg also won a concession from the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, Alistair Darling
Alistair Darling
Alistair Maclean Darling is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has been a Member of Parliament since 1987, currently for Edinburgh South West. He served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2007 to 2010...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
,that "those caring responsibilities of grandparents of working age will count towards their entitlement to the basic state pension." Begg had campaigned for grandparents of working age to receive National Insurance Credits in recognition of the fact that their caring role may impact on their contributions to their state pension entitlement.
On the floor of the House of Commons, Begg has also vehemently criticised fraudsters who take advantage of vulnerable people in her constituency through the use of mail scams and pyramid schemes.
Local campaigns
Begg was one of the most vociferous critics of Aberdeen City Council during the budget crisis of 2008, which lead to many of her constituents having their services cut. In 2009 Begg also criticised as "draconian" a move by Aberdeen City Council to set a debt collection agency on an 80 year old partially sighted woman for the sum of £17.50.Begg also wrote to the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
requesting a change to the house buying system in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. She also criticized plans to close an Aberdeen school 18 months after it had been saved, saying that they were "closing the school by stealth."
Personal life
In November 1999 Begg sustained a broken wrist and a broken leg and was knocked from her wheelchair in a road accident outside Aberdeen AirportAberdeen Airport
Aberdeen Airport is an international airport, located at Dyce, a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, approximately northwest of Aberdeen city centre. 2.76 million passengers used Aberdeen Airport in 2010, a reduction of 7.4% compared with 2009, making it the 15th busiest airport in the UK...
. Begg was forced to stay in hospital for three months as a result of her injuries.
She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to disabled people and to equal opportunities.
External links
- Anne Begg MP Labour Online
- Anne Begg's Profile New StatesmanNew StatesmanNew Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....