Gavin Steel STRANG

July 10, 1943 (age 66)

Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom

He served as a minister in the 1974-1979 government under Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and James Callaghan as well as in the Cabinet under Tony Blair. By the time of his retirement he was the longest-serving incumbent Scottish Member of Parliament. He went to Morrison"s Academy in Crieff. At Churchill College, Cambridge, he gained a Diploma in Agricultural Science (DipAgriSci). from 1966-1968. He was a scientist at the Agricultural and Food Research Council and Animal Breeding Research Organisation in Edinburgh from 1968-1970. In 1970, Labour Member of Parliament George Willis, who had represented Edinburgh East since 1954, retired. Although Edinburgh was a Conservative stronghold in the 1970s and 1980s, Strang"s seat was a Labour safe seat. He was first elected in 1970, and was re-elected in February 1974, October 1974, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001, 2005. From 1997 to 2005 his seat was named Edinburgh East & Musselburgh Strang was a minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, serving as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy in 1974 and then at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food until 1979. In 1990 he was the last person to ask Margaret Thatcher a question at PMQ"s, which he used to criticise her impact on communities and the poor during her time in office. He was Minister for Transport from 1997, with a seat in the Cabinet, but was sacked in 1998. After becoming a backbencher Strang was sometimes critical of government policy. He campaigned against the privatisation of National Air Traffic Services, and on 31 October 2006, was one of 12 Labour MPs to back Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party"s call for an inquiry into the Iraq War. Strang was Chairman of the All-Party Group for World Government and on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. In November 2007 he announced he would stand down at the next general election, but later reversed the decision. On 27 June 2008, Strang again changed his mind and announced that he would indeed stand down at the next general election.

Gavin Steel STRANG

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Background

STRANG, Gavin Steel was born on July 10, 1943 in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. Parents: James Steel Strang and Marie Strang (née Finicle).

Education

Morrison’s Academy, Perthshire. Edinburgh University, Bachelor of Science, 1964, Doctor of Philosophy, 1968. Cambridge University, diploma in Agricultural Sciences.

Spoken languages: French.

Career

He served as a minister in the 1974-1979 government under Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and James Callaghan as well as in the Cabinet under Tony Blair. By the time of his retirement he was the longest-serving incumbent Scottish Member of Parliament. He went to Morrison"s Academy in Crieff. At Churchill College, Cambridge, he gained a Diploma in Agricultural Science (DipAgriSci). from 1966-1968.

He was a scientist at the Agricultural and Food Research Council and Animal Breeding Research Organisation in Edinburgh from 1968-1970.

In 1970, Labour Member of Parliament George Willis, who had represented Edinburgh East since 1954, retired. Although Edinburgh was a Conservative stronghold in the 1970s and 1980s, Strang"s seat was a Labour safe seat.

He was first elected in 1970, and was re-elected in February 1974, October 1974, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001, 2005. From 1997 to 2005 his seat was named Edinburgh East & Musselburgh

Strang was a minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan, serving as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy in 1974 and then at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food until 1979.

In 1990 he was the last person to ask Margaret Thatcher a question at PMQ"s, which he used to criticise her impact on communities and the poor during her time in office.

He was Minister for Transport from 1997, with a seat in the Cabinet, but was sacked in 1998. After becoming a backbencher Strang was sometimes critical of government policy. He campaigned against the privatisation of National Air Traffic Services, and on 31 October 2006, was one of 12 Labour MPs to back Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party"s call for an inquiry into the Iraq War.

Strang was Chairman of the All-Party Group for World Government and on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

In November 2007 he announced he would stand down at the next general election, but later reversed the decision. On 27 June 2008, Strang again changed his mind and announced that he would indeed stand down at the next general election.

Achievements

Strang won Labour"s endorsement and was elected to Parliament.

Religion

Presbyterian

Membership

45th United Kingdom Parliament. 46th United Kingdom Parliament. 47th United Kingdom Parliament.

48th United Kingdom Parliament.

49th United Kingdom Parliament. 50th United Kingdom Parliament.

51st United Kingdom Parliament. 52nd United Kingdom Parliament.

53rd United Kingdom Parliament.

54th United Kingdom Parliament]

He was a member of the Tayside Economic Planning Consultative Group.

Interests

Swimming, golf, football spectating.

Connections

Spouse Bettina Mina Smith, 1973. Children: James, Barclay (stepson), Findlay (stepson).

null:: Bettina Mina Smith

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Gavin Steel STRANG

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