Gerard Killen

Gerard Killen
MP
Member of Parliament
for Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Assumed office
9 June 2017
Preceded by Margaret Ferrier
Majority 265 (0.5%)
Personal details
Born (1986-05-01) 1 May 1986
Nationality British
Political party Labour and Co-operative
Profession Politician

Gerard "Ged" Killen[1] (born 1 May 1986)[2] is a Labour and Co-operative politician. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Rutherglen and Hamilton West since the 2017 general election [3] after achieving a narrow majority of 265 votes over the sitting SNP MP, Margaret Ferrier.[4][5]

Killen is active in campaigning on LGBT Rights issues,[6] men's mental health[7] and banking reform.[8]

Early Life

Killen was born in Glasgow, living in the Gorbals before moving to Blantyre where he spent most of his youth. He attended Trinity High School in Rutherglen.[9][10]

Political Career

He joined the Labour Party in 2007 and was elected as a Councillor for the Rutherglen South ward of South Lanarkshire Council aged 26,[9] at a 2013 by-election[11] (following the death of Cllr Anne Higgins), having been a defeated candidate in the main 2012 elections.[9]

He retained his council seat at the 2017 UK local elections, this time in the Rutherglen Central and North ward.[12]

On 13 June 2018, Killen and five other Labour MPs resigned their roles as frontbenchers for the Labour Party in protest at Labour’s position on Brexit. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn had instructed his MPs to abstain in a vote which the UK would remain in the single market by joining the European Economic Area (EEA). The MPs resigned and voted in favour of the EEA.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "Ged Killen MP: Maiden speech". Scottish Labour. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "Gerard Killen MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Gerard Killen MP". UK Parliament.
  4. ↑ Kerr, Aiden (9 June 2017). "Labour gain first Scottish seat from SNP in election". STV Group. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Spooner, Murray (9 June 2017). "Labour takes Rutherglen and Hamilton West". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Ged Killen MP: We must end 'stitch-up' blocking equal marriage in Northern Ireland". PinkNews. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  7. ↑ McEwen, Alan (2017-12-19). "Concerns raised as suicide rate increase by 8% in one year in Scotland". dailyrecord. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  8. ↑ "Scots MP in bid to ban fee-charging cash machines". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  9. 1 2 3 Dickie, Douglas (20 February 2013). "Killen wins Rutherglen South for Labour". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  10. ↑ Edel Kenealy (15 June 2016). "Rutherglen LGBT community stands strong with Orlando friends in face of terror". Daily Record. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "Seven to contest Rutherglen South by-election". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "Council elections: SNP biggest party in Rutherglen and Cambuslang but Tory success is big talking point". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  13. ↑ Culbertson, Alix (14 June 2018). "Six Labour MPs quit frontbench roles over key Brexit vote". Sky News. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  14. ↑ Morris, Nigel (13 June 2018). "Six Labour frontbenchers resign in protest at Labour's Brexit position". i News. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Margaret Ferrier		 Member of Parliament
for Rutherglen and Hamilton West
2017–present		 Incumbent


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