Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
James Francis "Jim" Murphy (born 23 August 1967) is a British Labour Party politician and is the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Renfrewshire.
He is currently the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. From October 2008 to May 2010 he served in government as Secretary of State for Scotland. Prior to this, he served as Minister for Europe from 2007–08, the Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform from 2006–07, and as Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office from 2005–06.
Murphy was the co-chair of the Review of the Labour Party in Scotland, commissioned by Ed Miliband in May 2011.
Early life
Murphy was raised in a two-bedroom flat in Arden, Glasgow, until the age of twelve, when he emigrated to Cape Town, South Africa, after his father became unemployed.
Murphy returned to Britain at the age of eighteen to study Politics and European Law at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow where he worked as a waiter in order to fund his studies.
National Union of Students
During his time at university, he was elected President of the National Union of Students Scotland, the Scottish 'special region' organisation within the NUS, in 1992 and served a term of office until 1994.
In 1994, Murphy took a sabbatical from university to serve as the President of the National Union of Students, an office which he held from 1994–96, during which time he was a member of Labour Students. After this period, he did not return to his studies and did not take a degree.
During Murphy's presidency in 1995, the NUS dropped its opposition to the abolition of the student grant in line with the Labour Party's policies, contrary to the agreed policy at the NUS Derby Conference. Subsequently he was condemned by a House of Commons Early Day Motion introduced by Ken Livingstone and signed by 17 Labour MPs for "intolerant and dictatorial behaviour".
Member of Parliament
1997–2001
Murphy ended his term of office with the NUS in 1996 and at the 1997 general election, he was unexpectedly elected as MP for the Eastwood constituency, winning the formerly safe Conservative seat with a majority of 3,236.
From 2000-01, he was a member of the Public Accounts Committee, which oversees public expenditure. In March 2001, he was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Helen Liddell, the Secretary of State for Scotland.
2001–2005
At the 2001 general election he was re-elected as MP for Eastwood, with an increased majority of 9,141.
In June 2002, he was appointed as a government whip, with responsibility for the Scotland Office, Scottish Group of Labour MPs and the Northern Ireland Office. His responsibilities were changed in November 2002 to cover the Department of Trade and Industry instead of the Northern Ireland Office, and in June 2003 to cover the Scotland Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Department for International Development.
2005–2010
For the 2005 general election, the Eastwood constituency was renamed East Renfrewshire, although the boundaries were unchanged. Murphy was re-elected with a majority of 6,657 and promoted to ministerial rank as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Cabinet Office. His responsibilities included e-government, better regulation and public service modernisation.
He was promoted in May 2006 to Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, with responsibilities including employment, welfare reform and child poverty. In June 2007, he was appointed Minister for Europe. His portfolio included Public Diplomacy.
In an October 2008 cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Murphy as Secretary of State for Scotland.
2010–
After Labour lost the May 2010 Election, Murphy shadowed the role of Scottish Secretary until Ed Miliband was elected Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Elections could take place.
Following the election of Ed Miliband as Leader of the Opposition, in the Shadow Cabinet appointments that followed Murphy was appointed Shadow Defence Secretary on 8 October 2010.
Labour Party Groups
As a Government Minister, Murphy's membership of these groups was suspended in line with the Ministerial Code.
Vice Chair Labour’s Departmental Treasury Committee (1997–2001)Vice Chair Labour’s Departmental Culture, Media and Sport Committee (1997–2001)Member of Labour’s Northern Ireland CommitteeChair Labour Friends of Israel (2000–2002)WikiLeaks
In 2011, The Daily Telegraph published documents, compiled by a senior US official at the US Embassy in London and published by WikiLeaks, it was revealed that throughout 2009, Jim Murphy was in charge of organising a coalition of Unionist parties whose aim was to "block an independence referendum" in Scotland. The documents state: Throughout 2009, UK Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy played a leadership role in organizing the opposition parties, hoping to move Scotland toward implementation of the Calman recommendations as an alternative to an independence referendum, according to Murphy's advisors, Labour party insiders, and opposition party leaders. First Minister Salmond's response to independence critics (such as Murphy) has been to accelerate the implementation of the Calman recommendations as soon as possible - "to call the bluff."
Personal life
Jim Murphy is married to Claire, a primary school teacher; they have three children, two at primary school and one at high school. Murphy is a season ticket holder at Celtic Football Club and captains the Parliamentary Football Team. Murphy also used to play Sunday football for Scotland sometimes with his two brothers and his dad all being in the same team. Murphy is a vegetarian.