Thomas docherty mp biography of barack obama
Thomas Docherty (politician)
British Labour Party politician
Thomas Docherty | |
|---|---|
Docherty in | |
| In office 15 April &#;– 30 March | |
| Leader | Ed Miliband |
| Preceded by | Angela Smith |
| Succeeded by | Nic Dakin |
| In office 6 May &#;– 30 March | |
| Preceded by | Willie Rennie |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Chapman |
| Born | () 28 January (age&#;49) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Relations | Katie Docherty (wife) |
Thomas Docherty (born 28 January ) is a British Labour Party politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dunfermline and West Fife from until
Early life
Before becoming an MP, Docherty was an Account Director with a communications consultancy, having previously worked for Network Rail, BNFL and as a research assistant to Dunfermline West MSP Scott Barrie.[1]
Parliamentary career
Docherty was elected as the Member of Parliament for Dunfermline and West Fife in the May general election with a 5, majority.[2] In , he was a member of the special Select Committee set up to scrutinise the Bill that became the Armed Forces Act [3] He was also a member of the Public Bill Committee for the Defence Reform Act [4] Docherty proposed a Private Member's Bill aimed at banning discrimination against members of the Armed Forces and their families in The proposal was backed by shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker but failed to progress[5]Ed Miliband later suggested that a Labour government might introduce legislation along similar lines[6]
Docherty also sat on the Administration Committee, Procedure Committee and the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee at various times during the Parliament[7] He was a shadow minister with responsibility for environment, food and rural affairs between and , and in was appointed Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.[7]
Having previously worked in political lobbying, he proposed a private member's bill in early which would have required lobbyists to sign a public register and code of conduct[8] He criticised the government's own plans when they were unveiled later that year for excluding law firms.[9] After the government's Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill passed, Docherty introduced a private member's bill aiming at repealing it.[10]
In January , Docherty wrote to Culture Secretary Sajid Javid on Holocaust Memorial Day, suggesting a debate over banning Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. Docherty advocated for a national debate to put "limits on the freedom of expression." He said he didn't necessarily think it should be banned but thought it was important that such a debate took place.[11]
Docherty was defeated at the general election, losing to Douglas Chapman, the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate.[12]
Post parliamentary career
In January , after Jamie Reed announced his resignation as MP for Copeland, Docherty put his name forward to stand in the following by-election, but was not selected.[13]
In , he was shortlisted to be the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Whitehaven and Workington in the general election, again failing to be selected.[14]
Personal life
Docherty has lived in Dunfermline with his wife Katie and their children and been a member of Dunfermline Round Table and supporter of Dunfermline Athletic F.C.[1] He is a Roman Catholic.[15]