Martin Docherty-Hughes

Scottish SNP politician (born 1971) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martin Docherty-Hughes

Martin John Docherty-Hughes (born 21 January 1971)[1] is a Scottish National Party politician. He was previously the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Dunbartonshire from 2015 until his defeat in 2024.[2] He has also served as SNP Defence Spokesperson from 2023 to 2024.

Quick Facts SNP Defence Spokesperson in the House of Commons, Leader ...
Martin Docherty-Hughes
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Official portrait, 2017
SNP Defence Spokesperson in the House of Commons
In office
4 September 2023  5 July 2024
LeaderStephen Flynn
Preceded byDave Doogan
Succeeded byPosition Abolished
Chief Whip of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons
In office
7 December 2022  17 January 2023
LeaderStephen Flynn
Preceded byOwen Thompson
Succeeded byBrendan O'Hara
Member of Parliament
for West Dunbartonshire
In office
7 May 2015  30 May 2024
Preceded byGemma Doyle
Succeeded byDouglas McAllister
Personal details
Born
Martin John Docherty

(1971-01-21) 21 January 1971 (age 54)
Clydebank, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Alma materGlasgow Metropolitan College
University of Essex
Glasgow School of Art
Websitemartindocherty.scot
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Early life and education

Docherty-Hughes was raised by his parents in Clydebank, and began working from the age of 16.[3] He studied at the Glasgow College of Food Technology, now City of Glasgow College, graduating with an HND in Business Administration in 1997.[3] He subsequently obtained a degree in Politics from the University of Essex and attended the Glasgow School of Art for his master's degree.[3] On finishing his studies Martin returned to Clydebank and worked for a decade for the West Dunbartonshire Community and Volunteering Services (WDCVS).[3]

Political career

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He joined the Scottish National Party in 1991, and was elected the following year as Scotland's youngest councillor to the-then Clydebank District Council in May 1992, at the age of 21, until 31 March 1996.[4] He was elected to the third seat of the Anderston/City ward of the Glasgow City Council on 3 May 2012 polling 1,057 votes and 19.9% and exceeding the quota on the second count, becoming a Bailie until 14 May 2015.

In February 2015, he was selected as the SNP candidate for the West Dunbartonshire constituency in the 2015 UK general election.[5] He defeated incumbent Gemma Doyle, winning 30,198 votes and 59% of the vote.[6][7] As a consequence of his election to Parliament, he stepped down from his position on Glasgow City Council.

He changed his name from Docherty to Docherty-Hughes after marrying his husband John Hughes in January 2016.[8]

The descendant of a woman from Ballinglen, County Mayo and a man from Stralongford in County Donegal, he is also a relative of Ian McGarvey and has many relatives scattered around Philadelphia and New York.[9]

He was appointed as Chief Whip following the 2022 SNP Westminster Group Leadership contest by new leader, Stephen Flynn.[10]

Docherty-Hughes was unseated at the 2024 general election, losing his seat to Douglas McAllister of Scottish Labour.

References

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