27 Facts About Anne Begg

Dame Margaret Anne Begg DBE was born on 6 December 1955 and is a Scottish politician who served as Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South from 1997 to 2015.

Margaret Anne Begg was educated in Brechin, Angus at Damacre Primary School and Brechin High School.

Anne Begg earned an MA in History and Politics at the University of Aberdeen, and a Secondary Teaching Certificate from the Aberdeen College of Education in 1978.

Anne Begg became the principal English teacher at Arbroath Academy in 1988.

Anne Begg was selected to stand for Parliament, through an all-women shortlist, as Labour candidate for Aberdeen South.

Anne Begg was encouraged to stand by Frank Doran, the former Labour MP for the constituency.

Anne Begg became the second ever permanent wheelchair user in the House of Commons upon her election.

Anne Begg was re-elected in 2001,2005 and 2010, becoming the first Labour MP to retain her constituency for more than a single term.

At the 2015 general election, Anne Begg lost her seat to SNP candidate Callum McCaig.

Anne Begg served as secretary of the All-party parliamentary group on the BBC, and chair of the APPGs on Equalities, the Oil and Gas Industry, Chronic Pain, and Commercial Radio.

Anne Begg was a member of the Panel of Chairs and Vice Chair of the Speaker's Conference, tasked with looking at the under representation of disadvantaged groups in the Commons.

Anne Begg served as Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee from June 2010 until the dissolution of Parliament in 2015.

Anne Begg voted in favour of banning smoking in restaurants in April 2003.

Anne Begg voted in favour of allowing unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples to adopt, and in favour of the Civil Partnership Bill.

Anne Begg voted in favour of the NHS foundation trust proposal and against the replacement of the Trident system.

Anne Begg 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.

Anne Begg voted against allowing people detained at a police station to be fingerprinted and searched for identifying birthmarks unless it is in connection with a terrorism investigation.

In November 2008, Anne 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".

In June 2011, Anne Begg crossed swords with Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, over the issue of disabled people being allowed to work for less than minimum wage if they so choose in order to establish themselves in employment.

Davies explained that he was representing the views of constituents anxious to get a foothold on the earnings ladder, but Anne Begg believed that this was simply an attempt to discriminate against disabled people.

Anne 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.

Anne Begg has 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 live with chronic pain conditions.

Anne Begg has 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.

Anne Begg wrote to the Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond requesting a change to the house buying system in Scotland.

Anne Begg won the Disabled Scot of the Year award in 1988.

Anne Begg sustained a broken leg and wrist, and was hospitalised for three months.

Anne Begg was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2011 New Year Honours, for 'services to disabled people and to equal opportunities'.