Martin Docherty-Hughes Explained

Martin Docherty-Hughes
Office1:Chief Whip of the Scottish National Party
in the House of Commons
Leader1:Stephen Flynn
Term Start1:7 December 2022
Term End1:17 January 2023
Successor1:Brendan O'Hara
Predecessor1:Owen Thompson
Office2:Member of Parliament
for West Dunbartonshire
Term Start2:7 May 2015
Term End2:30 May 2024
Predecessor2:Gemma Doyle
Successor2:Douglas McAllister
Birth Name:Martin John Docherty
Birth Date:21 January 1971
Birth Place:Clydebank, Scotland
Party:Scottish National Party
Alma Mater:Glasgow Metropolitan College
University of Essex
Glasgow School of Art
Office:SNP Defence Spokesperson
in the House of Commons
Term Start:4 September 2023
Term End:5 July 2024
Predecessor:Dave Doogan
Successor:Position Abolished
Leader:Stephen Flynn

Martin John Docherty-Hughes (born 21 January 1971)[1] is a Scottish National Party politician. He was previously the Member of Parliament (MP) for West Dunbartonshire from 2015 until his defeat in 2024.[2] He has also served as SNP Defence Spokesperson from 2023 to 2024.

Early life and education

Docherty-Hughes was raised by his parents in Clydebank, and began working from the age of 16.[3] He studied at the Glasgow College of Food Technology, now City of Glasgow College, graduating with an HND in Business Administration in 1997. He subsequently obtained a degree in Politics from the University of Essex and attended the Glasgow School of Art for his master's degree.[3] On finishing his studies Martin returned to Clydebank and worked for a decade for the West Dunbartonshire Community and Volunteering Services (WDCVS).[3]

Political career

He joined the Scottish National Party in 1991, and was elected the following year as Scotland's youngest councillor to the-then Clydebank District Council in May 1992, at the age of 21, until 31 March 1996.[4] He was elected to the third seat of the Anderston/City ward of the Glasgow City Council on 3 May 2012 polling 1,057 votes and 19.9% and exceeding the quota on the second count, becoming a Bailie until 14 May 2015.

In February 2015, he was selected as the SNP candidate for the West Dunbartonshire constituency in the 2015 UK general election.[5] He defeated incumbent Gemma Doyle, winning 30,198 votes and 59% of the vote.[6] [7] As a consequence of his election to Parliament, he stepped down from his position on Glasgow City Council.

He changed his name from Docherty to Docherty-Hughes after marrying his husband John Hughes in January 2016.[8]

The descendant of a woman from Ballinglen, County Mayo and a man from Stralongford in County Donegal, he is also a relative of Ian McGarvey and has many relatives scattered around Philadelphia and New York.[9]

He was appointed as Chief Whip following the 2022 SNP Westminster Group Leadership contest by new leader, Stephen Flynn.[10]

Docherty-Hughes was unseated at the 2024 general election, losing his seat to Douglas McAllister of Scottish Labour.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Brunskill, Ian. The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. 19 March 2020. 978-0-00-839258-1. 179. HarperCollins Publishers Limited . 1129682574.
  2. Web site: Douglas McAllister wins the West Dunbartonshire seat. .
  3. News: Meet your new Scottish MPs: #19 Martin Docherty West Dunbartonshire . Martin . Hannah . . 4 June 2015 . 25 September 2015.
  4. http://www.snp.org/martin_docherty Profile
  5. News: SNP candidate ready for election 'battle' . Dumbarton Reporter . 10 February 2015 . 23 June 2016.
  6. News: List of Members returned to Parliament at the General Election 2015 Scotland. The Edinburgh Gazette. 15 May 2015. 3 June 2015.
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/S14000059 SNP wins West Dunbartonshire
  8. Web site: Connecting People Through News . . 2018-10-07.
  9. News: MPs lay claim to deep Donegal roots in House of Commons debate. Donegal News. 24 March 2022. 13. Paddy. Walsh. Next to his feet was Martin Docherty-Hughes (Dunbartonshire West) of the Scottish National Party. As someone with probably one of the longest Irish names in history - Máirtín Seán Ó Dochartaigh-Aodha - it would, he insisted, have been remiss of him not to have participated in the debate... 'I was delighted to be there to welcome the then Mayor of Letterkenny' - Councillor Ian McGarvey - 'who was related which was great'.. Speaking during the House of Commons debate on the Irish Diaspora in Britain, promoted by Rochdale Labour MP Tony Lloyd, on 17 March 2022.
  10. Web site: New SNP leader at Westminster Stephen Flynn sacks chief whip . thetimes.co.uk . 2022-12-07.