Career
Before entering the Scottish Parliament Godman was a Glasgow City councillor and before that she was a social worker working in the East End of Glasgow from 1979-1989. After leaving Street Gerard"s Senior Secondary School, Glasgow, aged 15, she worked with a charity for some time, as a waitress, in a bar, insurance collector and a house mother in a list "Doctorate" school. She later attended Jordanhill College where she trained as a social worker
From 2003-2011 she was a Deputy Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.
Expenses claim
She did not qualify for the rental expenses allowance as her main residence in Glasgow was too close to Holyrood to qualify, but claimed rent rather than hotel expenses. This became headline news in the press at the time when the expenses scandal was news.
She was entitled to an overnight expenses allowance that permitted MSPs to recoup expenses for each night, which she had paid for the rent of the apartment. lieutenant was confirmed that she had neither broken the Parliamentary rules, nor benefited in any way.