Johanna Baxter

Johanna Baxter is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Paisley and Renfrewshire South since 2024.^[1]

Johanna Baxter MP
Official portrait, 2024.
Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 July 2024
Preceded by	Mhairi Black
Majority	6,527 (15.8%)
Personal details
Born	March 1979 (age 45–46) Saltcoats, Scotland
Political party	Labour

Early life and education

Born in Saltcoats, Baxter became a union representative at 18. Baxter funded her way through university by working at a call centre.^[2]

Career

Baxter served as head of local government for Unison Scotland.^[2] She was Chair of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party in 2022-2023.^[3] She contested the seat of Renfrewshire North and West in the 2021 Hollyrood election and the seat of Cunninghame North in the 2016 Hollyrood election.

Baxter was a member of Labour's NEC, and in 2016 criticised the lack of a secret ballot for a decision on whether to allow then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on to the leadership ballot, saying that it led to intimidation by Corbyn supporters against NEC members who voted against allowing him to stand for the Labour leadership: "The only reason to vote against that is so the intimidation can continue. It’s the most shameful act I have ever seen. He showed his true colours in that vote. I have had people tweet and post my personal mobile online, directing people to me, directing their mob at me," Baxter said.^[4]

House of Commons

At the 2024 general election, Baxter was elected as the Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, with 19,583 votes (a share of 47.4%) and a majority of 6,527 votes over second-placed Jacqueline Cameron of the SNP.^[5]

On 24 July 2024, Baxter made her maiden speech in the House of Commons during a debate on education and opportunity.^[6]

Personal Life

Baxter is married to Mark Glover, Executive Chairman of SEC Newgate UK.^[7]