Helen McElhone
| Helen McElhone | |
|---|---|
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Member of Parliament for Glasgow Queen's Park |
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In office 2 December 1982 – 9 June 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Frank McElhone |
| Succeeded by | Constituency Abolished |
| Majority | 5,694 (36.0%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 April 1933 Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| Died | 5 June 2013 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Frank McElhone |
| Relations | Johnny McElhone (son) |
| Children | 2 sons; 2 daughters |
| Residence | Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| Occupation | Shop worker |
Helen Margaret McElhone (10 April 1933 – 5 June 2013) was a Scottish politician. She worked together with her husband, Frank McElhone, during his time as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Glasgow from 1969. After his sudden death, McElhone was elected as his successor; but within a year her Glasgow Queen's Park constituency was abolished in boundary changes and she lost out to a neighbouring MP in the selection for a new seat. She continued her political activity after leaving Parliament.
McElhone was born Helen Margaret Brown in Glasgow. She married Frank McElhone in November 1958, and they had two sons and two daughters. Both of their sons were involved in the band Altered Images, with Gerard serving as the band's manager and Johnny playing bass guitar. She "took an active interest" in the greengrocer's business run by her husband on Thistle Street in Gorbals for eight years. When he was elected to Parliament to represent Glasgow Gorbals in a 1969 by-election, she took over running the shop. She became a member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.
During Frank McElhone's time in Parliament, Helen McElhone was an active worker within his Constituency Labour Party and was regarded by some as the driving force behind her husband's career. She took constituency surgeries on his behalf when he was attending Parliament, and also sat in on committees in Westminster.
Frank McElhone died in Glasgow on 22 September 1982, while participating in a 'Day of Action' march and demonstration in support of National Health Service workers; his death meant a by-election must be held. His wife was not initially considered a likely candidate, but local party colleagues were said to have persuaded her to put her name forward for the selection contest. There were rival candidates including Jimmy Wray, who was a local councillor and had been Frank McElhone's election agent, but she picked up nominations from ward branches within the constituency, and eventually won the selection on 3 November by 29 votes to 28. The selection contest was a bitter one within the local party.
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