Hugh Henry

Hugh Henry


Convener of the Scottish Parliament Public Audit Committee
In office 26 September 2007 – 23 March 2016
Preceded by	Charlie Gordon (as Convener of the Audit Committee)
Succeeded by	Jenny Marra (as Convener of Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee)
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire South Paisley South (1999-2011)
In office 6 May 1999 – 23 March 2016
Preceded by	Constituency Created
Succeeded by	Tom Arthur
Personal details
Born	(1952-02-12) 12 February 1952 (age 65) Glasgow
Political party	Scottish Labour Party
Alma mater	University of Glasgow

Hugh Henry (born 12 February 1952 in Glasgow) is a Scottish Labour politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire South from 2011 to 2016 (having represented Paisley South from 1999 to 2011).

He was raised in Erskine, Renfrewshire and educated at St Mirin's Academy in Paisley, at the University of Glasgow and at Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow. He has 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.

He is married with two daughters and one son.

He 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 Scottish Parliamentary Election, 2003, 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.