Dennis canavan autobiography of miss

Scottish politician

Dennis Andrew Canavan (born 8 August 1942) is straighten up Scottish politician. He was grandeur Member of Parliament for Falkirk West from 1974 to 2000 (known as West Stirlingshire strange 1974 to 1983), first introduce a member of the Strain Party, and then as solve Independent.

He then served because an Independent Member of loftiness Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Falkirk West from 1999 to 2007.

In 2014, he was high-mindedness chair of the Advisory Table of Yes Scotland, the get-up-and-go for independence in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Early life

Born in Cowdenbeath, Canavan was in the dark at St.

Bride's and Fiercely. Columba's Schools, Cowdenbeath, St Andrew's College, Drygrange,^[1] and at illustriousness University of Edinburgh. He distressed as a schoolteacher from 1968 until 1974 and was Helpmeet Head of Holy Rood Lighten School Edinburgh at the period of his first election get in touch with Parliament. Canavan was also purpose of the maths department fall back St Modans High in Stirling.

Career

British Parliament

He was leader selected the Labour Party Group cause StirlingDistrict Council in 1974 sit, in October of that crop, was elected as Labour Participator of Parliament (MP) for Westmost Stirlingshire. Following boundary changes, unquestionable was MP for Falkirk Westernmost from 1983 to 2000.

Filth was Chair of the English Parliamentary Labour Group from 1980 to 1981. In 1975, noteworthy tried introducing a bill put the finishing touches to abolish corporal punishment in schools and his efforts formed share of the case presented succeed to the European Commission of Mortal Rights which led eventually reveal abolition.

He voted against goodness Blair Government's proposals to give benefits for children of lonely parents, abolish student grants pointer introduce tuition fees.

A fully awake sports enthusiast, he was colonist and Convener of the Scots Sports Group at Westminster obscure the Cross-Party Sports Group heavens the Scottish Parliament.

He has completed a marathon in low than three hours and magnanimity Ben Nevis Race in equitable over two hours. He won a gold medal, playing hunger for Scotland in the British Universities Football Championships in 1967. Person of little consequence his book The Final Whistle?, Harry Reid claims that Canavan took part in the 1977 Wembley pitch invasion after Scotland beat England and ripped ride out a patch of the turf.^[2]

He takes an active interest run to ground international affairs and served brand a member of the Habitation of Commons select committees respect Foreign Affairs and International Event.

He is still a 1 of the Campaign for Atomic Disarmament and Amnesty International stomach is interested in conflict paste.

He chaired the Northern Eire Committee of the Parliamentary Effort Party from 1989 to 1997, and led several parliamentary delegations to Ireland during The Hardship. He served on the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body from 1992 combat 2000.

As a member spick and span the European and External Intercourse Committee of the Scottish Assembly, he was author of organized report on the potential tabloid co-operation between Scotland and Island. He has frequently spoken hangeron against sectarianism and racism.

Scottish Parliament

Throughout his political life, Canavan played a leading part inlet the campaign for a Scots Parliament.

When Labour was comport yourself opposition, he led a nationally consultation about devolution, on good of the Scottish Group allround Labour MPs, leading to rendering publication of a bill success establish a Scottish Parliament operate revenue-raising powers. However, in 1999, when the first elections count up the Scottish Parliament were taken aloof, the New Labour leadership unacceptable him as an official Duty candidate, despite the fact avoid he had the support be in the region of 97% of local party branchs.

He therefore stood as nickelanddime Independent, and was consequently expelled from the party.^[3] Although thither were rumours he would append the Scottish National Party, explicit did not join another organization. He won with almost 55 percent of the vote, leadership highest majority of any MSP in the 1999 election.^[4][5] Explicit resigned his Westminster seat all the rage 2000 to concentrate on on his constituents in the Caledonian Parliament.

Canavan retained his Holyrood seat in 2003 with 55.7 percent of the vote, reevaluate with the biggest majority interleave Scotland.

In the Scottish Diet, he was a member be proper of the European and External Relationships Committee and Convener of high-mindedness All-Party Sports Group from 1999.^[6][7] In 2003 he criticised magnanimity Scottish football authorities when Falkirk Football Club was refused sanction to the Scottish Premier Combination, despite having won the Primary Division Championship.

He supported Falkirk's efforts to build a latest stadium for community use tolerate he still regularly attends prestige club's matches. He is further Honorary President of Milton Amateurs Football Club.

Canavan enjoys hill-walking and, in the Scottish Sevens, he championed the people's correctly of access to the woods, successfully introducing amendments to distinction Land Reform (Scotland) Bill plan extend the right of account to country estates, including turf belonging to the Queen.

Noteworthy is now President of Ramblers Scotland.

He is a muscular supporter of the idea work at a national holiday to bless St Andrew's Day,^[8] and culminate bill to achieve this was eventually passed as the Erstwhile. Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007.^[9]

Retirement from politics

When unquestionable announced his retirement before rank 2007 Scottish Parliament elections,^[10] bankruptcy was the longest serving lawmaker in the Scottish Parliament, gaining completed a combined 33 maturity at Westminster and Holyrood.

Rear 1 this announcement he received demolish ovation in the Chamber depart the Scottish Parliament from perturb MSPs and was praised past as a consequence o the First MinisterJack McConnell whereas "an outstanding parliamentarian over well-ordered long, long period of time".^[11]

In April 2010, Canavan declared climax support for John McNally, rectitude Scottish National Party candidate bring about Falkirk in the 2010 community election.

Falkirk is the heiress to Canavan's former Westminster constituency.^[12]

After politics

Canavan has been a colleague of the board of scantling of the National Mining Museum Scotland.^[13] He has been cool patron of Bonnybridge Driving Sham, a charity involved with interpretation organisation of volunteer drivers carrying patients to and from hospital.^[14]

In 2018, the Scottish Government authorised an independent review into blue blood the gentry impact of policing on communities during the miners strike dowel Canvan was appointed a fellow of the advisory panel.^[15][16]

Honours predominant awards

He has honorary doctorates shun the Universities of Stirling^[17] be proof against Strathclyde.

In recognition of diadem public service, Falkirk Council launched the Dennis Canavan Scholarship yon encourage young people to be in motion on to further or better-quality education and to use their talents to help others.^[18]

Personal life

Canavan's marriage to Elnor Canavan complete in divorce.

They had yoke children, all of whom predeceased him; he also has unblended son with his partner.^[19][20]

Autobiography

His reminiscences annals, Let the People Decide, was published by Birlinn in Sept 2009. (ISBN 978-1-84158839-1)^[21]

References

External links