Convener of the Public Audit Committee
In office
26 September 2007 – 24 March 2016
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Renfrewshire South
Paisley South (1999–2011)
In office
6 May 1999 – 24 March 2016
Preceded by
Constituency established
Succeeded by
Personal details
Born
(1952-02-12) 12 February 1952 (age 72)
Glasgow, Scotland
Political party
Hugh Henry (born 12 February 1952) is a former Scottish Labour Party politician. He was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Renfrewshire South, formerly Paisley South, from 1999to2016.
Henry was born in Glasgow and raised in Erskine, Renfrewshire. He was educated at St Mirin's AcademyinPaisley, the University of Glasgow and Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow. Prior to working in politics, he worked as an accountant with IBM UK Ltd, as a teacher and as a welfare rights officer with Strathclyde Regional Council. He was a local councillor from 1984 until 1999, including 4 years as leader of Renfrewshire Council. A former Marxist, he was once a supporter of the Militant tendency.[1]
Henry was appointed Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care in the Scottish Executive in 2001, and moved to become Deputy Minister for Social Justice in 2002. He was appointed Deputy Minister for Justice after the 2003 Scottish Parliament election, and became Minister for Education in 2006. He retained the education brief in opposition after the 2007 election. Henry was named Scottish Politician of the Year in 2010, for his performance as Convenor of the Public Affairs Committee. On 11 May 2011, Henry stood in the election for the 4th Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, coming second to Tricia Marwick, a Scottish National Party MSP. He stood down from the Scottish Parliament on 23 March 2016.
Henry is married with two daughters and one son.
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Paisley South
1999–2011
Constituency abolished
New constituency
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire South
2011–2016
Political offices
Minister for Education and Young People
2006–2007
Fiona Hyslop
as Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
Deputy Minister for Justice
2002–2006
Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care
2001–2002
By date first representing
Scottish Labour in the
Scottish Parliament
2001
2003
2005
2007
2011
2012
2013
2016
