Joanna Cherry QC MP |
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SNP Home Affairs and Justice Spokesman | |
Assumed office 20 May 2015 |
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Leader | Angus Robertson |
Preceded by | Position established |
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West |
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Assumed office 7 May 2015 |
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Preceded by | Alistair Darling |
Majority | 8,135 (15.8%) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Joanna Catherine Cherry 18 March 1966 Edinburgh, Scotland |
Political party | Scottish National Party |
Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Joanna Catherine Cherry QC (born 18 March 1966) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh South West since May 2015. She is the SNP Justice and Home Affairs spokesperson in the House of Commons.
Cherry was educated at St Margaret's Convent School in Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh, where she gained a first-class Bachelor of Laws Honours degree in 1988, a Master of Laws degree in 1989 and a Diploma in Legal Practice in 1990. Following her graduation she worked as a research assistant with the Scottish Law Commission (1990) before practising as a solicitor with the Edinburgh legal firm Brodies WS until 1995. She also worked as a part-time tutor in constitutional law, family law and civil court practice at the University of Edinburgh (1990–1996).
Cherry was admitted as an advocate in 1995, with a particular interest in employment and industrial relations, health and safety, mental health, personal injury and professional negligence.
She served as a Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government from 2003 to 2008, and as an Advocate Depute and Senior Advocate Depute from 2008 until 2011. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2009 and was an advocate with the Arnot Manderson stable within the Faculty of Advocates until her election to parliament.