Jo Swinson

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Jo Swinson

Jo Swinson was the Liberal Democrats MP for East Dunbartonshire from 2005 to 2015. Hit by the surge for support for the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the 2015 general election, Swinson failed to be re-elected losing out to the SNP candidate John Nicolson. [1]

She served as parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills from 2012.[2]

She is married to fellow Liberal Democrat MP Duncan Hames.[3]

Education

Swinson attended Douglas Academy in Milngavie before that she studied Management at the London School of Economics. [4]

History

After graduating in 2000, Swinson worked in Yorkshire as marketing and PR manager for the Emap radio station Viking FM. In 2002 she moved back to East Dunbartonshire and worked for Glasgow-based media business SpaceandPeople. [4] Swinson was previously the Liberal Democrats spokesperson on foreign affairs, equality, Scotland and the arts. She was also a member of the environmental audit select committee from 2007 to 2010 as well as being a chairperson of the Liberal Democrats Women’s Policy Working Group in 2009. [4]

Background

As a backbencher, Swinson co-founded the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Allergy, Wellbeing Economics, and Body Image. She is also a Governor of the Ditchley Foundation. She was also a member of the Speaker’s Conference from 2009 to 2010. [4]

Notes

  1. Jo Swinson close to tears as she loses seat to SNP challenger Mirror, 8 May 2015, accessed 20 May 2015
  2. Jo Swinson, www.parliament.uk, accessed 24 August 2013.
  3. Sarah Priddy, PIL: Current Members Related to Other Current or Former Members - Commons Library Standard Note, 13 September 2013.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Jo Swinson GOV.UK, accessed 10 October 2014