Margaret McKay
Margaret McKay (née McCarthy; 22 January 1907 – 1 March 1996) was a British Labour Party Member of Parliament for Clapham from 1964 to 1970.
Despite later assertions that McKay was born in 1911, she was in fact born on 22 January 1907 at Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, a daughter of Joseph and Betsy Ann (Catlow) McCarthy.[1]
McKay's family moved to New Bedford, Connecticut in her youth, but then returned to England. McKay joined the Independent Labour Party's Guild of Youth, then the Young Communist League, graduating to the Communist Party of Great Britain. She left the party in 1932, joining the Labour Party. She also became general secretary of the National Union of Domestic Workers.[2]
After holding various trade union posts, McKay stood unsuccessfully for Labour in Walthamstow East at the 1959 general election.[2] At the 1964 general election, she defeated the sitting Conservative MP Alan Glyn for Clapham, taking the seat with a majority of only 556.[3] At the 1966 election she increased her majority to over 4,000 against the Conservative Ian Gow,[4] but she stood down at the 1970 general election, when the seat was won by the Conservative William Shelton.[5]
While in Parliament, McKay became a supporter of Arab interests, creating a mock Palestinian refugee camp in Parliament Square and wearing Arab robes during debates. Jordan issued a postage stamp in her honour. After retiring from politics, McKay moved to Abu Dhabi.[2]
References
- ↑ Edward J. Davies, "The Parentages of Edward Whittle and Margaret McKay", North West Labour History, 38(2013-14):43.
- 1 2 3 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- ↑ Not updated: UK General Election results: October 1964
- ↑ Not updated: UK General Election results: March 1966
- ↑ Not updated: UK General Election results 1970
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Margaret McKay
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alan Glyn |
Member of Parliament for Clapham 1964–1970 |
Succeeded by William Shelton |