Michael McCann (politician)

Michael McCann
In office
6 May 2010 – 30 March 2015
Preceded by Adam Ingram
Succeeded by Lisa Cameron
Personal details
Born (1964-01-02) 2 January 1964
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland[1]
Nationality British
Political party Labour
Spouse(s) Tracey Anne McCann[2]

Michael McCann (born 2 January 1964)[3] is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, winning the seat in 2010, succeeding Adam Ingram.[4] He lost the seat in 2015 to the Scottish National Party's Lisa Cameron.

McCann is chairman of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Party[5] He served on the International Development Committee in the 2010-2015 Parliament[6]

In February 2011, the BBC Scotland News investigated allegations surrounding a relationship between McCann and James Kean, a local property developer and Labour Party donor.[7] McCann did not declare a relationship whilst he was a councillor, serving on the planning and estates committees in South Lanarkshire. During McCann's tenure numerous applications related to Kean came before committee. It was also alleged that the Labour MP intervened vigorously in a dispute between Kean and a rival bidder over a supermarket application that stood to earn the victor around £18 million. The bid involving Kean’s company, Kean Properties, was granted planning permission in October 2010. McKean argued the rumours were "outrageous smears", and said an independent report he had commissioned had concluded that all had been "dealt following the correct procedures and there is no indication of any preferential treatment or maladministration."[7]

McCann was charged with breach of the peace and reported to the Procurator Fiscal on 7 October 2014 over an alleged confrontation with a 17-year-old boy and his friend as the pair campaigned for Yes Scotland in his East Kilbride constituency.[8]

McCann's relationship with his local constituency activists has become increasingly strained and difficult, to the extent that in February 2015, Labour Party councillors Susan Kerr and Gerry Convery stated that they would not campaign for McCann in May's General Election. Party insiders say McCann and his predecessor as MP for the area, Adam Ingram, are the power-brokers in the local party but are deeply unpopular with members who dislike their abrasive style.[9][10]

McCann is known to be a fierce critic of the SNP, and ruled out any formal post-election deal with them in March 2015[5]

McCann lost his seat to Lisa Cameron, part of the landslide 56 SNP MPs returned on 7 May 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "Who's Who". ukwhoswho.com.
  2. ↑ "House of Commons - The Register of Members' Financial Interests - Part 2: Part 2". parliament.uk.
  3. ↑ "Michael McCann MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "Michael McCann elected to serve Strathaven". s1Strathaven. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  5. 1 2 Leftly, Mark (22 March 2015). "'No deal with SNP' says chair of Scottish Labour MPs, Michael McCann". Independent. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Michael McCann". Parliament UK. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  7. 1 2 Daly, Mark (23 February 2011). "Labour MP's friendship prompts council planning concern". BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Labour MP charged over Yes schoolboy leaflet row". Scotsman. 7 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Labour MP's campaign in disarray as local councillors refuse to campaign for him". Herald Scotland.
  10. ↑ "Labour candidates go on holiday as party faces election meltdown". Herald Scotland.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Adam Ingram		 Member of Parliament for East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow
2010– 2015 		Succeeded by
Lisa Cameron
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