James Kelly (Scottish politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Kelly
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Official portrait, 2016
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| General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party | |||||||||||||||||
| In office 5 September 2021 – 3 April 2023 |
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| Leader | Anas Sarwar | ||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Drew Smith (acting) | ||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Paul McHugh | ||||||||||||||||
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| Scottish Labour portfolios | |||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Chief Whip of the Scottish Labour Party | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities | ||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Shadow Minister for Parliamentary Business | ||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice | ||||||||||||||||
| Mar–May 2021 | Shadow Minister for Parliamentary Business | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||
| Born |
James Anthony Kelly
23 October 1963 |
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| Political party | Scottish Labour and Co-operative | ||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Alexa Kelly | ||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Computer analyst | ||||||||||||||||
| Website | https://www.jameskelly.scot/ | ||||||||||||||||
James Anthony Kelly was born on October 23, 1963. He is a Scottish politician who has held important roles in the Scottish Labour Party. Since 2021, he has been the General Secretary of the party.
Before this, he was a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow area from 2016 to 2021. He also served as an MSP for Rutherglen from 2007 to 2016. James Kelly has also been a spokesperson for finance and justice for the Scottish Labour Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Kelly grew up in the Halfway area of Cambuslang, Scotland. He went to Trinity High School, Rutherglen. After school, he studied at Glasgow College of Technology.
He then worked in computing and finance. He became a chartered accountant and worked as a business analyst in East Kilbride.
Political Journey
James Kelly started his political journey by helping with election campaigns. He was the election agent for Tommy McAvoy, a Member of Parliament, in several elections. He also led the local Labour Party group in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
Becoming an MSP
In 2007, James Kelly was elected as an MSP for Rutherglen. When he first joined the Scottish Parliament, he worked on the Finance Committee. He also served as a Labour Whip, which means he helped make sure party members voted together.
From 2008 to 2011, he was part of the Justice Committee. He also served as a Shadow Minister for Community Safety. This role meant he spoke for his party on safety issues.
Key Roles in Parliament
James Kelly was re-elected as an MSP in 2011. After Johann Lamont became the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, he was made Chief Whip. This is a very important role in a political party.
Later, in 2013, he became the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities. This meant he was the main spokesperson for his party on big projects like roads and buildings.
He continued to hold important roles under different party leaders. He was the party's Parliamentary Business Manager, helping to plan what the party would do in Parliament. He also helped organize the party's election campaigns.
In 2015, James Kelly was asked to leave the debating chamber during a discussion. This happened because he kept trying to speak when he was not allowed to.
Moving to the Glasgow Region
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, James Kelly lost his local seat in Rutherglen. However, he was still elected as an MSP for the wider Glasgow region. This meant he continued to represent people in Parliament.
He also managed the Scottish Labour Party's campaign for the 2017 UK general election.
Justice and Finance Roles
In 2017, James Kelly became the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution. This meant he was the main spokesperson for his party on money matters and how Scotland is governed.
In 2019, he became the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice. He spoke for his party on law and order issues. He later stepped down from this role in 2020.
Repealing the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act
After being re-elected in 2016, James Kelly worked to change a law called the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act. He believed this law was unfair to football fans and did not help stop bad behavior.
In January 2018, MSPs voted to support his plan to get rid of the law. This was a big moment because it was the first time the ruling party lost a vote like this. In March, the law was officially removed.
Return to the Frontbench
James Kelly supported Anas Sarwar in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election. After Sarwar became leader, Kelly was again appointed as Parliamentary Business Manager. He also became the spokesperson for Community Safety and Drugs Policy.
In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, he was not re-elected as an MSP.
Personal Life
James Kelly lives in Cambuslang with his wife, Alexa, and their two daughters. He enjoys sports like football, tennis, and running.
