Jim Murphy

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This page is about the UK politician. For the American author, see Jim Murphy (author).

James Murphy (born 23 August 1967 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a politician in the United Kingdom.[1] He is Labour member of Parliament for East Renfrewshire, Scotland, and as of May 2006 is a Minister of State at the Department of Work and Pensions [2].

Murphy grew up in both Scotland and South Africa. He has been an MP since 1997, when he was elected at age 29, and was previously a controversial president of the National Union of Students (NUS). Under his leadership, the NUS, in 1995, dropped their opposition to the abolition of the student grant in line with the Labour Party's policies, although Murphy "was condemned by a House of Commons Early Day Motion for 'intolerant and dictatorial behaviour' shortly before being elected..." [3].

He joined the government in May 2002 as an assistant whip, rising within the Whips' Office to become Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in June 2003. In the reshuffle following the general election of May 2005, he became Information and Communication Minister at the Cabinet Office as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. However, in November of the same year, the Cabinet Office Minister, John Hutton, became Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following the resignation of David Blunkett. As the prime minister did not immediately replace Hutton, Murphy became acting Cabinet Office Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. This situation persisted until May 2006, when Hilary Armstrong took over on a permanent basis from Hutton. There had been speculation that Murphy, whose handling of the role was well-regarded, would be given the post, but this would have been an unusually fast promotion (under-secretary straight to cabinet minister).

He has been Minister of State for Employment & Welfare Reform at the Department of Work and Pensions since the reshuffle in May 2006, working with his former boss John Hutton again. He is a board member of the Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). (Prime Minister Tony Blair has been a member of the LFI since 1983.). During his time as a student activist in Glasgow he was known for his support for international liberation struggles including the campaigns of the PLO and ANC.

In December 2001, Murphy admitted that the House of Commons paid the full rent for his constituency office while he claimed half the rent from Eastwood MSP Ken MacIntosh, with whom he shares the office [4].

Contents 1 Parliamentary career 2 Role in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 3 Personal 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Parliamentary career

• 1997 First Elected
• 2001 - 2002 PPS to Helen Liddell, Secretary of State for Scotland
• 2002 - 2005 Whip
• 2005 - 2006 Parliamentary under-secretary of state, Cabinet Office
• 2005 - 2006 Acting Cabinet Office Minister
• 2006 - Minister of state, Department of Work and Pensions

[edit] Role in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act

Murphy was the government minister attemping to bring the controversial Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act through its parliamentary stages. He introduced it to the House of Commons on 11 January 2006, defended it on the Today programme, and has chaired the committees.

[edit] Personal

Murphy is a fan of Celtic F.C. [5] and was married at Parkhead, where he is in regular attendance. He and his wife have 2 sons and a daughter.

[edit] External links

• Jim Murphy MP official site
• Cabinet Office - Jim Murphy MP official profile
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask aristotle: Jim Murphy MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Jim Murphy MP
• BBC News - Jim Murphy profile 10 February 2005
• SourceWatch -Jim Murphy MP - a fully referenced profile

[edit] References

• Jim Murphy MP. Guardian Unlimited Politics. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
• Jim Murphy MP career. Guardian Unlimited Politics. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
• Jim Murphy Profile. BBC News. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.
• Jim Murphy Interview. Public Finance. Retrieved on 2006-05-09.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by: Allan Stewart	Member of Parliament for Eastwood 1997–2005	Succeeded by: (constituency abolished)
Preceded by: (new constituency)	Member of Parliament for East Renfrewshire 2005 – present	Incumbent
Political Offices
Preceded by: John Hutton	Cabinet Office Minister 2005–2006	Succeeded by: Hilary Armstrong
Preceded by: John Hutton	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 2005–2006	Succeeded by: Hilary Armstrong
Other Offices
Preceded by: Lorna Fitzsimons	President of the National Union of Students 1994–1996	Succeeded by: Douglas Trainer