Career
Raised and educated in Dublin, Christine worked in the catering industry in Dublin and then London, and first moved to Scotland in 1984, where she became a college lecturer. She was elected to the Fife Central seat after former First Minister Henry McLeish stood down as Managing Successful Programmes following a scandal relating to the sub-letting of his constituency office – dubbed "Officegate" by the media. She had previously been leader of Fife Council from 1998.
She represented a ward in Kirkcaldy as a councillor, and still lives in the town, which is just outside the Fife Central constituency.
Her constituency office was based in Glenrothes, adjacent to Fife Council"s headquarters. In 2007 she lost her constituency to Scottish National Party politician Tricia Marwick.
