Marie McNair

Marie McNair (born 1975/76)^[1] is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Clydebank and Milngavie since May 2021.^[2]

Marie McNair MSP
Swearing in, 2021
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Clydebank and Milngavie
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 May 2021
Preceded by	Gil Paterson
Personal details
Political party	Scottish National Party (since 2016)
Other political affiliations	Labour (until 2008) Independent (2008–2016)

Early career

Before entering politics, McNair spent 14 years working as a nurse at St Margaret of Scotland Hospice in Clydebank.^[3]

Political career

Initially a member of the Labour Party, McNair was elected as a councillor for the Clydebank Waterfront ward at the 2003 Scottish local elections.^[3] She was re-elected in 2007, but quit the party in November 2008 to stand as an independent. In her resignation letter, she said: "There is a ruling clique that ignores views expressed that they don't agree with and their style of leadership has intimidation at its core. These are all issues that have been raised within the party at all levels to no avail. I feel strongly that I can better express and stand up for the views of my constituents when free from the restraints of the Labour Group's ruling clique."^[4]

After being re-elected as an independent candidate in 2012 and voting Yes in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum,^[5] McNair defected to the SNP in January 2016^[6] and was elected in Clydebank Waterfront for a fifth time in 2017.^[1]

In October 2020, she was part of an all-woman shortlist to replace the retiring Gil Paterson as MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie,^[1] and was chosen as the candidate the following month.^[7] At the election, she was elected with a slightly reduced majority.^[8]

References

1. Stewart-Robertson, Tristan (12 October 2020). "Whitecrook councillor is latest to bid for Clydebank MSP seat". Clydebank Post.
2. "Constituencies A-Z: Clydebank and Milngavie". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
3. Stewart-Robertson, Tristan (27 February 2017). "'I'm with this fight from start to finish': Former nurse Cllr Marie McNair vows to back Hospice". Clydebank Post. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
4. Dailyrecord.co.uk (7 November 2008). "Marie McNair quits after feeling 'intimidation' from colleagues". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
5. Duffy, Judith (4 April 2021). "Disillusionment with Labour led to new SNP candidate switching sides in 2014". The National. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
6. Ferguson, Alan (13 January 2016). "Council leader slams former independent Marie McNair as 'opportunist' as she joins SNP". Clydebank Post. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
7. Borland, Craig (7 November 2020). "Councillor Marie McNair named SNP candidate in Clydebank and Milngavie". Clydebank Post.
8. Weir, Lorraine (7 May 2021). "First West Dunbartonshire declaration in - SNP hold". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 December 2022.

External links

• Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Marie McNair

Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Gil Paterson	MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie 2021 – present	Incumbent