20 Facts About Monica Lennon

Monica Lennon is a Scottish politician who has served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Central Scotland region since 2016.

Monica Lennon was the Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Health and Sport from 2018 to 2021, Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work from March 2021 to June 2021 and Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Net Zero, Energy and Transport from June 2021 to November 2021.

Monica Lennon was a candidate in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election and currently serves on the Scottish Parliament's Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

Monica Lennon attended the co-educational Roman Catholic John Ogilvie High School in Hamilton.

Monica Lennon studied environmental planning at the University of Strathclyde, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001.

Monica Lennon's parents had separated, and later divorced, as a result of her father's drinking which developed into severe alcoholism.

From 2001 to 2007, Monica Lennon worked as a planning officer for South Lanarkshire Council.

Monica Lennon married at the age of 24 but felt forced to exclude her father from the wedding because of his alcoholism; he died at the age of 60.

On 6 September 2018, Monica Lennon made a speech in which she spoke of a constituent who had committed suicide shortly after Christmas 2017.

Monica Lennon asked Nicola Sturgeon to take urgent action to review suicide prevention procedures in NHS Lanarkshire.

Monica Lennon used the position to campaign for institutions to provide free menstrual hygiene products, to tackle period poverty.

Monica Lennon commented that the war on drugs had failed and drug laws should be devolved to Scotland and drugs decriminalised.

Monica Lennon said people across the UK "deserve a public health approach that meets their needs".

Monica Lennon pledged to end the care home "dementia tax" and said Scottish Labour with her as leader would commit to reviewing social care policies to ensure people with advanced dementia receive equal treatment.

Monica Lennon has backed Alzheimer Scotland's Fair Dementia Care campaign.

In 2020, Monica Lennon was selected as the Scottish Labour Co-operative candidate in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

Monica Lennon was defeated by incumbent Christina McKelvie of the SNP, but was re-elected via the Central region list.

Monica Lennon was one of 5 Labour MSPs who was absent for a Scottish Parliament vote calling for the UK Government to reverse its decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment.

Monica Lennon is married to Jim Monica Lennon and has one daughter, Isabella.

Monica Lennon is a feminist and a vegetarian, and suffers from ailurophobia, an irrational fear of cats.