Mary McAlister
Encyclopedia
Mary Agnes McMackin McAlister CBE
(26 April 1896 – 26 February 1976) was an Irish-born
Scottish
nurse
who also went into politics and was a Member of Parliament
.
, Ireland
; in later life she never revealed her date of birth in public, but the public record indicates that she was born on 26 April 1896 and baptised the same day. She was the eldest child of Charles McMackin, publican, of Rathmullan, son of Joseph McMackin, described as "merchant", and Winnifred Deeny, national teacher, of Glenvar, the eldest child of Charles Deeny, originally from Inniskil, and Sarah McGinley, originally from Legboy, Fanad, both also teachers. She moved with her family to Glasgow
in 1903, and attended the Franciscan Convent School there. From 1923 to 1926, she trained as a fever
nurse at the Knightswood Hospital in Glasgow. Having qualified, she married J. Alexander McAlister in 1927; they had four daughters (Winifred, Molly, Elinor and Sheila), and five grandchildren (Frances, Susan, Sheila, Andrew, Jane and Judy).
. At the end of the war she went into politics with the Labour Party
, being elected to Glasgow Corporation for Anderston Ward in 1945. In 1947 she was made a Justice of the Peace
for Glasgow, and served on the bench for four years. From 1952 to 1955 McAlister was co-opted to be Convenor of the Health and Welfare Committee. She also served on the Western Region Hospitals Board and the General Nursing Council for Scotland. She was President of the Royal College of Nursing
(Glasgow Branch) from 1956.
for Glasgow Kelvingrove
, died in January 1958, McAlister was chosen as the Labour candidate for the ensuing by-election
.
In an unusual contest between two women, the Unionists adopted the Walter Elliot's widow Katharine as their candidate. McAlister declared that the centrepiece of her campaign was opposing the Government's Rent Act, which had allowed many landlords in the constituency to raise rents; the constituency had a large number of private rented homes. The by-election was one of the first to be televised, as Scottish Television
(which had launched the previous year) was anxious to make a reputation for covering issues. On 6 March the candidates were invited to the studios for a televised debate, in which McAlister criticised Mrs Elliot's defence of a report on the Scots economy "with a delightful shaft in the Scots patois". McAlister's concentration on rents and the economy. contrasted with the candidate of the further left Independent Labour Party
, William Park, who spoke almost solely about international disarmament.
On 17 April 1958 McAlister made her maiden speech
opposing the Rent Act. She was not a frequent speaker in Parliament, concentrating on constituency problems; during debate on the 1959 budget, she called for lowering of purchase tax on bedding and furnishings rather than refrigerators and washing machines.
, a new Unionist candidate was chosen. Frank Lilley
proved an able campaigner and The Times
corresponded noted "subtle undercurrents of religion" in the constituency. Lilley ended up winning the seat by 1,101 votes.
In December 1960, McAlister was appointed to the National Assistance Board, serving from 1961 to 1966. She was a member of the Supplementary Benefits Commission from 1966 to 1968, finishing as Deputy Chairman; that year she was awarded the CBE
.
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...
(26 April 1896 – 26 February 1976) was an Irish-born
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
Scottish
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...
nurse
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
who also went into politics and was a 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,...
.
Family
McMackin was born in Rathmullan,County DonegalCounty Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
; in later life she never revealed her date of birth in public, but the public record indicates that she was born on 26 April 1896 and baptised the same day. She was the eldest child of Charles McMackin, publican, of Rathmullan, son of Joseph McMackin, described as "merchant", and Winnifred Deeny, national teacher, of Glenvar, the eldest child of Charles Deeny, originally from Inniskil, and Sarah McGinley, originally from Legboy, Fanad, both also teachers. She moved with her family to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1903, and attended the Franciscan Convent School there. From 1923 to 1926, she trained as a fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
nurse at the Knightswood Hospital in Glasgow. Having qualified, she married J. Alexander McAlister in 1927; they had four daughters (Winifred, Molly, Elinor and Sheila), and five grandchildren (Frances, Susan, Sheila, Andrew, Jane and Judy).
Municipal politics
During the Second World War, McAlister served initially in the Civil Nursing Reserve. By the end of the war she was working as a Postal CensorPostal censorship
Postal censorship is the inspection or examination of mail, most often by governments. It can include opening, reading and total or selective obliteration of letters and their contents, as well as covers, postcards, parcels and other postal packets. Postal censorship takes place primarily but not...
. At the end of the war she went into politics with the 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...
, being elected to Glasgow Corporation for Anderston Ward in 1945. In 1947 she was made a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Glasgow, and served on the bench for four years. From 1952 to 1955 McAlister was co-opted to be Convenor of the Health and Welfare Committee. She also served on the Western Region Hospitals Board and the General Nursing Council for Scotland. She was President of the Royal College of Nursing
Royal College of Nursing
The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...
(Glasgow Branch) from 1956.
Kelvingrove by-election
When Walter Elliot, the long-serving and well-regarded Unionist Member of ParliamentMember 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,...
for Glasgow Kelvingrove
Glasgow Kelvingrove (UK Parliament constituency)
Glasgow Kelvingrove was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system.- Boundaries :...
, died in January 1958, McAlister was chosen as the Labour candidate for the ensuing by-election
Glasgow Kelvingrove by-election, 1958
The Glasgow Kelvingrove by-election of 13 March 1958 was held after the death of Conservative MP Walter Elliot:The seat was marginal, having been won by the Conservatives at the United Kingdom general election, 1955 by just short of 3,000 votes...
.
In an unusual contest between two women, the Unionists adopted the Walter Elliot's widow Katharine as their candidate. McAlister declared that the centrepiece of her campaign was opposing the Government's Rent Act, which had allowed many landlords in the constituency to raise rents; the constituency had a large number of private rented homes. The by-election was one of the first to be televised, as Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
(which had launched the previous year) was anxious to make a reputation for covering issues. On 6 March the candidates were invited to the studios for a televised debate, in which McAlister criticised Mrs Elliot's defence of a report on the Scots economy "with a delightful shaft in the Scots patois". McAlister's concentration on rents and the economy. contrasted with the candidate of the further left Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
, William Park, who spoke almost solely about international disarmament.
Parliament
McAlister won the seat by 1,360 votes, although on polling day the Labour agent complained that one woman helping their campaign was threatened with eviction by her landlord unless she stopped the use of her rented home as committee rooms for one polling station.On 17 April 1958 McAlister 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...
opposing the Rent Act. She was not a frequent speaker in Parliament, concentrating on constituency problems; during debate on the 1959 budget, she called for lowering of purchase tax on bedding and furnishings rather than refrigerators and washing machines.
Defeat
Dame Katharine Elliot had been given a life peerage in 1958 and so at the 1959 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
, a new Unionist candidate was chosen. Frank Lilley
Frank Lilley
Francis James Patrick Lilley was a British civil engineering company chairman and politician.-Military service:...
proved an able campaigner and The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
corresponded noted "subtle undercurrents of religion" in the constituency. Lilley ended up winning the seat by 1,101 votes.
In December 1960, McAlister was appointed to the National Assistance Board, serving from 1961 to 1966. She was a member of the Supplementary Benefits Commission from 1966 to 1968, finishing as Deputy Chairman; that year she was awarded the CBE
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...
.