Clare Haughey
Scottish politician (born 1967)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clare Joan Haughey (née Donnelly, born April 1967)[2] is a Scottish politician who served as Minister for Children and Young People from 2021 to 2023,[3] having previously served as Minister for Mental Health from 2018 to 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Rutherglen and Cambuslang since the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, having previously represented Rutherglen from 2016 until its abolition in 2026.
Clare Haughey | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Minister for Children and Young People | |
| In office 20 May 2021 – 29 March 2023 | |
| First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Preceded by | Maree Todd |
| Succeeded by | Natalie Don |
| Minister for Mental Health | |
| In office 27 June 2018 – 20 May 2021 | |
| First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Preceded by | Maureen Watt |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Stewart |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Rutherglen and Cambuslang Rutherglen (2016–2026) | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | James Kelly |
| Majority | 5,844 (17.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Clare Joan Donnelly April 1967 (age 59) |
| Party | Scottish National Party |
| Website | clarehaughey |
Nursing career
Political career
In September 2015, the SNP branch selected her as the candidate for the Rutherglen constituency, ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.[6] The constituency had been held by Labour since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 until the election in May 2016, when Haughey defeated the incumbent James Kelly.[7]
On 27 June 2018, Haughey was appointed as the Scottish Government's Minister for Mental Health.[8]
She retained the Rutherglen seat in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, with an increased majority and just over 50% of the vote share.[9][10]
On 19 May 2021, Haughey was appointed to the new government as Minister for Children and Young People.[11][12]
On 29 March 2023, Haughey was appointed as the Convenor of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.