# Elaine Murray

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British politician (born 1954)

Elaine Murray Official portrait, 2011 Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council In office 23 May 2017 – 5 May 2022 Deputy Rob Davidson Preceded by Ronnie Nicholson Succeeded by Stephen Thompson Councillor for Nith, Dumfries & Galloway In office 5 May 2017 – 5 May 2022 Preceded by Colin Smyth Succeeded by Keith Walters Scottish Labour Group Leader, Dumfries & Galloway Council In office 15 May 2017 – 5 May 2022 Preceded by Ronnie Nicholson Succeeded by Linda Dorward Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfriesshire Dumfries (1999–2011) In office 6 May 1999 – 24 March 2016 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Oliver Mundell Personal details Born (1954-12-22) 22 December 1954 (age 71) Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England Party Labour Alma mater University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge Occupation Politician

**Elaine Kildare Murray** (born 22 December 1954) is a retired [Scottish Labour](/source/Scottish_Labour) politician. She was leader of [Dumfries and Galloway Council](/source/Dumfries_and_Galloway) for the 2017–2022 term. She was also the [Member of the Scottish Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament) (MSP) for [Dumfries](/source/Dumfries_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)) from 1999 to 2011, and then for [Dumfriesshire](/source/Dumfriesshire_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)) from 2011 to 2016. At the [1999](/source/1999_Scottish_Parliament_election), [2003](/source/2003_Scottish_Parliament_election) and [2007](/source/2007_Scottish_Parliament_election) elections, Murray increased her percentage share of the vote. She was Shadow Minister for the Environment in the [Scottish Parliament](/source/Scottish_Parliament).[1] She lost her seat in 2016.

In May 2017, Murray was elected one of four councillors in Dumfries and Galloway who represent the [Nith ward](/source/Nith_(ward)) and was elected the Group Leader of Labour in the council. She did not stand for re-election in [2022](/source/2022_Dumfries_and_Galloway_Council_election).

## Background

Murray was born in [Hitchin](/source/Hitchin), [Hertfordshire](/source/Hertfordshire), where her Scottish parents lived at the time. She was brought up in [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh), where she was a pupil at [The Mary Erskine School](/source/The_Mary_Erskine_School),[2] and graduated with an undergraduate degree in chemistry from the [University of Edinburgh](/source/University_of_Edinburgh) and a [PhD](/source/PhD) in [physical chemistry](/source/Physical_chemistry) from the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge).

After graduating from Cambridge, Murray first worked in scientific research, and from 1990–93 was an associate lecturer for the [Open University](/source/Open_University).[3] At the same time, she worked for [Alex Smith](/source/Alex_Smith_(politician)), [Member of the European Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_European_Parliament). In 1994 Murray was elected as a [Councillor](/source/Councillor) on [Strathclyde Regional Council](/source/Strathclyde_Regional_Council) and in 1995 to [South Ayrshire Council](/source/South_Ayrshire_Council), where she was Convenor of Educational Services.[3]

## Member of the Scottish Parliament

Murray was elected as [Member of the Scottish Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament) (MSP) for the [Dumfries constituency](/source/Dumfries_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)) following the [first Scottish Parliamentary elections](/source/1999_Scottish_Parliament_election) in May 1999.[1] She was re-elected in [2003](/source/2003_Scottish_Parliament_election) and then again in [2007](/source/2007_Scottish_Parliament_election), [2011](/source/2011_Scottish_Parliament_election) and [2016](/source/2016_Scottish_Parliament_election).

Murray was appointed Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport upon [Jack McConnell](/source/Jack_McConnell) becoming [First Minister](/source/First_Minister_of_Scotland) in 2001, a post she held until 2003. She has been a member of a number of Committees in the Scottish Parliament, including holding the post of Deputy Convenor of the Finance Committee between 2007 and 2008. Murray was Enterprise Spokesman under [Wendy Alexander](/source/Wendy_Alexander)'s leadership[1] and upon election of [Iain Gray](/source/Iain_Gray) as Leader of the Labour Group in the Scottish Parliament, she was appointed Shadow Minister for the Environment.[1]

Murray was a member of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee as well as Convenor of the Cross Party Groups on *Science and Technology* and *Civil Nuclear Energy*. She was also Vice-Convenor of the *Life Sciences* and *Animal Welfare* Cross Party Groups.[1]

In September 2011, Murray announced her candidacy for the [deputy leadership of the Scottish Labour Party](/source/2011_Scottish_Labour_leadership_election).[4] She withdrew in early November after failing to gain enough nominations. She claimed she could have got the sufficient number of nominations but said it was clear the Deputy Leadership role would go to a Westminster MP.[5]

At the [2016 Scottish Parliament election](/source/2016_Scottish_Parliament_election), Murray lost her seat to [Oliver Mundell](/source/Oliver_Mundell), a Conservative.[6][7]

## Dumfries and Galloway councillor

At the [2017 Scottish local elections](/source/2017_Scottish_local_elections), Murray stood for election in the [Dumfries and Galloway](/source/Dumfries_and_Galloway) ward of [Nith](/source/Nith_(ward)) and was elected as one of four councillors for the ward.[8] She later became leader of the council,[9] but announced her retirement from politics in April 2022, saying: "I want to do other things while I'm still fit and healthy. I have been an elected representative in local or national politics for 27 out of the last 28 years and I feel that's long enough."[10]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-democracylive_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-democracylive_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-democracylive_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-democracylive_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-democracylive_1-4) ["Elaine Murray MSP"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150226191418/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/32686.stm). *Democracy Live*. BBC News. Archived from [the original](http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/32686.stm) on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["School Details – Mary Erskine"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160114133508/http://guidetoindependentschools.com/schools/view/285/Mary-Erskine-Girls-Mixed-sixth-with-Stewart-s-Melville-12-18-Day-and-Boarding). The Guide to Independent Schools. Archived from [the original](http://guidetoindependentschools.com/schools/view/285/Mary-Erskine-Girls-Mixed-sixth-with-Stewart-s-Melville-12-18-Day-and-Boarding) on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-debretts_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-debretts_3-1) ["Dr Elaine Murray, MSP"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130606053920/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/m/20432/Elaine%20Kildare+MURRAY.aspx). *[Debrett's](/source/Debrett's)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/m/20432/Elaine%20Kildare+MURRAY.aspx) on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Elaine Murray to stand as Scottish Labour deputy leader"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15099723). *BBC News*. Retrieved 5 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Dinwoodie, Robbie (5 November 2011). ["Labour deputy leader bid ends"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13039537.labour-deputy-leader-bid-ends/). *The Herald*. Retrieved 8 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Holyrood 2016: Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson wins Edinburgh Central"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-scotland-36219380). *BBC News*. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Dalziel, Magdalene (16 May 2016). ["Ex-Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray vows to return to the fray one day"](http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/ex-dumfriesshire-msp-elaine-murray-7980091). *Daily Record*. Retrieved 18 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** The Newsroom (5 May 2017). ["Local elections: Conservatives are largest party in Dumfries and Galloway Council"](https://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/news/politics/local-elections-conservatives-are-largest-party-dumfries-and-galloway-council-2092817). *The Galloway Gazette*. Retrieved 18 July 2022. {{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: |author= has generic name ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Elaine Murray named as new leader of D&G Council"](https://www.itv.com/news/border/2017-05-24/elaine-murray-named-as-new-leader-of-d-g-council). ITV News. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** McLean, Marc (24 February 2022). ["Dumfries and Galloway Council leader stepping down at election"](https://planetradio.co.uk/westsound-fm/local/news/dumfries-council-leader-retiring/). [West Sound](/source/West_Sound_(Ayrshire)). Retrieved 18 July 2022.

## External links

- [Personal website](https://archive.today/20130122001159/http://www.elainemurraymsp.com/)

- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: [Elaine Murray](https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/elaine-murray)

Scottish Parliament New constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfries 1999–2011 Constituency abolished New constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament for Dumfriesshire 2011–2016 Succeeded by Oliver Mundell Political offices New office Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport 2001–2003 Office abolished

v t e 2011 Scottish Labour deputy leadership election Outgoing Deputy Leader: Johann Lamont Winner Anas Sarwar MP Other nominees Ian Davidson MP Lewis Macdonald MSP Not nominated Elaine Murray MSP

v t e Former Labour Party MSPs By date first representing Scottish Labour in the Scottish Parliament 1999 Wendy Alexander Scott Barrie Sarah Boyack Rhona Brankin Bill Butler Malcolm Chisholm Cathie Craigie Margaret Curran Susan Deacon Donald Dewar Helen Eadie Patricia Ferguson Sam Galbraith Karen Gillon Trish Godman Rhoda Grant Iain Gray Hugh Henry John Home Robertson Janis Hughes Gordon Jackson Sylvia Jackson Cathy Jamieson Margaret Jamieson Andy Kerr Johann Lamont Marilyn Livingstone Jack McConnell Lewis Macdonald Angus MacKay Kate Maclean Ken Macintosh Maureen Macmillan Paul Martin John McAllion Frank McAveety Tom McCabe Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale Henry McLeish Michael McMahon Duncan McNeil Des McNulty Alasdair Morrison Bristow Muldoon Mary Mulligan Elaine Murray Irene Oldfather Peter Peacock Cathy Peattie Richard Simpson Elaine Smith Elaine Thomson Mike Watson Ian Welsh Karen Whitefield Allan Wilson 2001 Brian Fitzpatrick 2003 Richard Baker Marlyn Glen Christine May 2005 Charlie Gordon 2007 Baron Foulkes of Cumnock James Kelly John Park David Stewart David Whitton 2011 Claudia Beamish Kezia Dugdale Mary Fee Neil Findlay Hanzala Malik Jenny Marra Margaret McCulloch Margaret McDougall Siobhan McMahon Anne McTaggart Graeme Pearson John Pentland Drew Smith 2012 Jayne Baxter 2013 Cara Hilton 2014 Alex Rowley 2016 Lesley Brennan Monica Lennon Richard Leonard Colin Smyth 2021 Foysol Choudhury Pam Duncan-Glancy Paul O'Kane Mercedes Villalba Martin Whitfield 2025 Davy Russell

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elaine Murray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Murray) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Murray?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.