Iain McKenzie (born 4 April 1959) is a Scottish Labour Party politician, who was formerly the Member of Parliament for Inverclyde. He was elected at the June 2011 by-election, and stood unsuccessfully for re-election in the 2015 general election.

Iain McKenzie
McKenzie in 2011
Member of Parliament
for Inverclyde
In office
30 June 2011 – 30 March 2015
Preceded byDavid Cairns
Succeeded byRonnie Cowan
Majority5,838 (20.8%)
Personal details
Born (1959-04-04) 4 April 1959 (age 65)
Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Political partyScottish Labour
SpouseAlison

Early life

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McKenzie was born and raised in Greenock, Inverclyde's largest town, in the areas of Broomhill and Fancy Farm.[1] A former employee of IBM, he was elected to Inverclyde Council, becoming Leader of the Council in February 2011.[2]

Parliament

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McKenzie's election followed the death of David Cairns, who had represented the constituency since 2001. McKenzie made his maiden speech to the House of Commons on 11 July 2011, mainly focusing on employment, opportunity and population growth in his constituency.[3]

McKenzie was one of the few Labour MPs who initially voted against legalising gay marriage in the UK. However, on the third reading of the bill, McKenzie voted for gay marriage as he was satisfied protection for religious groups had been ironed out.[4] He also did not support British involvement in airstrikes in Iraq on 26 September 2014, for which he was sacked as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Defence Secretary, Vernon Coaker.[5]

His Parliamentary biography lists his political interests as 'Europe' and 'employment'.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Business, innovation and skills: 19 Jul 2011: House of Commons debates". TheyWorkForYou. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Labour chooses candidate for Inverclyde by-election". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Business, innovation and skills: 19 Jul 2011: House of Commons debates". TheyWorkForYou. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  4. ^ "MP changes mind on gay marriage". Greenock Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  5. ^ "MPs support UK air strikes against IS". BBC News. 26 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Iain McKenzie". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Inverclyde
20112015
Succeeded by