Michael Connarty

Michael Connarty was made a patron of Humanists UK for his humanist contributions to ethical questions in public life.

Former Labour MP

Born in 1947, Michael Connarty was Labour MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk from 2005 to 2015, and before that MP for Falkirk East from 1992 to 2005.

He has a Degree in Economics and a Diploma in Childcare and Education, and was a special needs teacher from 1976 to 1992. During this time he was also a local councillor, and was Leader of Stirling District Council from 1980 to 1990.

His political interests include: Economy and Enterprise; International Development; European Union; Industry; Skills and Training; Youth Affairs; Crime; Drug Abuse; Small Business; Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation. He was the Secretary of the Parliamentary Humanist Group, and is a member of various Parliamentary committees: the Select Committee on European Scrutiny (Chair, 2005 - 2010); Chair, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST); the back bench Labour Party Departmental Committee Treasury; the back bench Labour Party Departmental Committee Department for Work and Pensions; the back bench Labour Party Departmental Committee Department for International Development.

He was one of the signatories to a letter supporting a holiday on Charles’ Darwin’s birthday, published in The Times on February 12, 2003, and also sent to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.

In The Guardian he said his proudest achievement in Parliament since 2001 was: "Achieving a breakthrough in provision of non-blood-based recombinant clotting products for people with haemophilia. A payments scheme for all who have contracted hepatitis C. Campaigning successfully to stop child asylum seekers being locked in Dugavel former prison."

See also
His official website http://www.mconnartymp.com/
A brief Wikipedia biography at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Connarty
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/michael_connarty/linlithgow_and_falkirk_east for more details on his parliamentary career