Martin Docherty-Hughes
Scottish SNP politician (born 1971)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Martin John Docherty-Hughes (born 21 January 1971)[1] is a Scottish National Party politician. He was previously the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Dunbartonshire from 2015 until his defeat in 2024.[2] He has also served as SNP Defence Spokesperson from 2023 to 2024.
Martin Docherty-Hughes | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2017 | |
| SNP Defence Spokesperson in the House of Commons | |
| In office 4 September 2023 – 5 July 2024 | |
| Leader | Stephen Flynn |
| Preceded by | Dave Doogan |
| Succeeded by | Position Abolished |
| Chief Whip of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons | |
| In office 7 December 2022 – 17 January 2023 | |
| Leader | Stephen Flynn |
| Preceded by | Owen Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Brendan O'Hara |
| Member of Parliament for West Dunbartonshire | |
| In office 7 May 2015 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Gemma Doyle |
| Succeeded by | Douglas McAllister |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Martin John Docherty 21 January 1971 |
| Party | Scottish National Party |
| Alma mater | Glasgow Metropolitan College University of Essex Glasgow School of Art |
| Website | martindocherty |
Early life and education
Docherty-Hughes was raised by his parents in Clydebank, and began working from the age of 16.[3] He studied at the Glasgow College of Food Technology, now City of Glasgow College, graduating with an HND in Business Administration in 1997.[3] He subsequently obtained a degree in Politics from the University of Essex and attended the Glasgow School of Art for his master's degree.[3] On finishing his studies Martin returned to Clydebank and worked for a decade for the West Dunbartonshire Community and Volunteering Services (WDCVS).[3]
Political career
He joined the Scottish National Party in 1991, and was elected the following year as Scotland's youngest councillor to the-then Clydebank District Council in May 1992, at the age of 21, until 31 March 1996.[4] He was elected to the third seat of the Anderston/City ward of the Glasgow City Council on 3 May 2012 polling 1,057 votes and 19.9% and exceeding the quota on the second count, becoming a Bailie until 14 May 2015.
In February 2015, he was selected as the SNP candidate for the West Dunbartonshire constituency in the 2015 UK general election.[5] He defeated incumbent Gemma Doyle, winning 30,198 votes and 59% of the vote.[6][7] As a consequence of his election to Parliament, he stepped down from his position on Glasgow City Council.
He changed his name from Docherty to Docherty-Hughes after marrying his husband John Hughes in January 2016.[8]
The descendant of a woman from Ballinglen, County Mayo and a man from Stralongford in County Donegal, he is also a relative of Ian McGarvey and has many relatives scattered around Philadelphia and New York.[9]
He was appointed as Chief Whip following the 2022 SNP Westminster Group Leadership contest by new leader, Stephen Flynn.[10]
Docherty-Hughes was unseated at the 2024 general election, losing his seat to Douglas McAllister of Scottish Labour.
