23 Facts About Margaret Curran

Margaret Curran served in the House of Commons as the member of Parliament for Glasgow East from 2010 and 2015, and was Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland from 2011 until 2015.

Margaret Curran was born in Glasgow, the daughter of Irish parents James Margaret Curran and Rose McConnellogue.

Margaret Curran was educated at Our Lady and St Francis School in Glasgow.

Margaret Curran attended the University of Glasgow, where she graduated with an MA degree in History and Economic History in 1981.

Margaret Curran first became politically active in the university's Labour Club in the late 1970s, where she was associated with future Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont and future Labour MSP Sarah Boyack.

Margaret Curran held several posts in Labour student politics, including secretary and vice-chair of Glasgow University Labour Club, and chair and secretary of the Scottish Organisation of Labour Students.

Margaret Curran was a community worker, and then a lecturer in community education at the University of Strathclyde, a subject she holds a Certificate in.

Margaret Curran was Mohammad Sarwar's election agent at Glasgow Govan for the 1997 general election.

In 1999 Margaret Curran was elected to the new Scottish Parliament, and was promoted to a junior minister when Henry McLeish became First Minister and later became a member of the Scottish Executive.

Margaret Curran served as convenor of the Social Inclusion committee, then was promoted to Deputy Minister for Social Justice.

Margaret Curran then rose to become minister in that portfolio, which later changed to Minister for Communities, introducing the Homelessness Bill in September 2002.

Margaret Curran held the position of Minister for Parliamentary Business from 2004 until 2007.

Margaret Curran was re-elected comfortably in 2003 and again in 2007.

Margaret Curran pledged her support to Iain Gray who was standing against Cathy Jamieson and Andy Kerr.

Iain Gray was voted Scottish Labour Party Leader and appointed Margaret Curran to manage the party's 2011 election manifesto.

Margaret Curran stood down as MSP for Glasgow Baillieston at the 2011 Scottish election.

The by-election took place on 24 July 2008 and Margaret Curran was defeated by John Mason of the Scottish National Party by 365 votes.

At the 2010 general election, Margaret Curran regained Glasgow East for Labour from the Scottish National Party.

Margaret Curran was known to have a particularly difficult relationship with SNP leader Alex Salmond.

In 2012, Margaret Curran accused Salmond and his government of having a "culture of casual dishonesty", and suggested his "blokeish attitude" made him a liability among women in Scotland during the Scottish independence referendum campaign.

Margaret Curran was nominated for a life peerage by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in late 2024.

Margaret Curran was created Baroness Curran, of Townhead in the City of Glasgow, on 15 January 2025, and was introduced to the House of Lords on 16 January.

Margaret Curran listed her recreations in Who's Who as "reading, theatre, American politics" and "spending time with my sons".