Margaret McKay

Background

Despite later assertions that McKay was born in 1911, she was in fact born on 22 January 1907 at Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, a daughter of Joseph and Betsy Ann (Catlow) McCarthy.

Career

McKay"s family moved to New Bedford, Connecticut in her youth, but then returned to England. McKay joined the Independent Labour Party"s Guild of Youth, then the Young Communist League, graduating to the Communist Party of Great Britain. She left the party in 1932, joining the Labour Party.

She also became general secretary of the National Union of Domestic Workers.

After holding various trade union posts, McKay stood unsuccessfully for Labour in Walthamstow East at the 1959 United Kingdom general election. At the 1964 general election, she defeated the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament Alan Glyn, taking the seat with a majority of only 556.

While in Parliament, McKay became a supporter of Arab interests, creating a mock Palestinian refugee camp in Parliament Square and wearing Arab robes during debates. Jordan issued a postage stamp in her honour.

After retiring from politics, McKay moved to Abu Dhabi.

Achievements

• At the 1966 election she increased her majority to over 4,000 against the Conservative Ian Gow, but she stood down at the 1970 general election, when the seat was won by the Conservative William Shelton.

Membership

43rd United Kingdom Parliament. 44th United Kingdom Parliament.