Peggy Herbison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peggy Herbison
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| Her Majesty's High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland | |
| In office 1970–1971 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | The Lord Reith |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Clydesmuir |
| Minister of Social Security Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1964–1966) |
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| In office 18 October 1964 – 26 July 1967 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Richard Wood |
| Succeeded by | Judith Hart |
| Member of Parliament for North Lanarkshire |
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| In office 5 July 1945 – 29 May 1970 |
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| Preceded by | William Anstruther-Gray |
| Succeeded by | John Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Margaret McCrorie Herbison
11 March 1907 Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | 29 December 1996 (aged 89) Lanark, Scotland |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Teacher |
Margaret McCrorie Herbison (born March 11, 1907 – died December 29, 1996) was an important Scottish politician. She was a member of the Labour Party. From 1964 to 1967, she served as the Minister of Social Security. This role meant she was in charge of government support for people.
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Early Life and Education
Margaret Herbison was born in Shotts, Scotland, on March 11, 1907. Her father was a coal miner. She went to Dykehead primary school and Bellshill Academy.
After school, she studied at the University of Glasgow. In 1928, she earned a degree in English. While at university, she led the student group for the Labour Party.
From 1930 to 1945, Margaret worked as a teacher. She taught English and history in Glasgow schools. She also taught economics and helped improve conditions for miners. During this time, she was very active in local politics.
Political Career
Margaret Herbison's father died in a coal mine accident. After this, the miners' group he belonged to chose her to run for election. She won the election in 1945. This made her a Member of Parliament (MP) for North Lanarkshire. She took the seat from Sir William Anstruther Grey.
Roles in Government
Margaret Herbison held several important jobs in the government:
- From 1950 to 1951, she was a junior minister for Scotland.
- From 1964 to 1966, she was the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance.
- From 1966 to 1967, she was the Minister of Social Security. This job involved looking after the country's social welfare programs.
Other Political Roles
When her party was not in power, she spoke for them on different topics. She was a spokesperson for Scotland (1951–1956, 1959–1962). She also spoke on Education (1956–1959) and Pensions (1958–1959 and 1962–1964).
She was a member of the Labour Party's main committee. In 1957, she was even the leader of the Labour Party for a year. In the House of Commons, where MPs meet, she led a committee on overseas aid.
Margaret Herbison was also a British representative to the Council of Europe. She was the only woman among 101 members at the first meeting of the Council's Parliamentary Assembly in 1949.
Later Life and Achievements
Margaret Herbison was a lifelong member of the Church of Scotland. From 1970 to 1971, she made history. She became the first woman to serve as the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This is a special role representing the monarch at the Church's main meeting.
In 1970, the University of Glasgow gave her an honorary degree. This was to recognize her achievements. In the same year, she was named 'Scotswoman of the Year'.
Margaret Herbison passed away on December 29, 1996, at the age of 89.
