{{short description|Scottish Labour politician}} {{Use British English|date=October 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Monica Lennon | honorific_suffix = | image = [[File:MonicaLenon3x4.jpg|220px]] | caption = Official portrait, 2016 | office = [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]]<br />for [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]]<br />{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}} | term_start = 5 May 2016 | term_end = 9 April 2026 | office1 = Scottish Labour portfolios | suboffice1 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government]] | subterm1 = 2017–2018 | suboffice2 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport]] | subterm2 = 2019–2021 | suboffice3 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work]] | subterm3 = Mar–Jun 2021 | suboffice4 = [[Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport|Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport]] | subterm4 = Jun–Nov 2021 | birth_name = Monica Ward | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|01|07}} | birth_place = [[Bellshill]], [[North Lanarkshire]], Scotland | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour Co-op]] | alma_mater = [[University of Strathclyde]] | website = | spouse = Jim Lennon | children = 1 }}
'''Monica Lennon''' (''{{nee}}'' '''Ward'''; born 7 January 1981) is a Scottish politician who served as a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]] (MSP) for the [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]] region from [[2016 Scottish Parliament election|2016]] to [[2026 Scottish Parliament election|2026]]. A member of [[Labour and Co-operative Party|Labour Co-op]], she served in various roles on the front bench.
She was previously the Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Health and Sport from 2018 to 2021, Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work from March 2021 to June 2021 and Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Net Zero, Energy and Transport from June 2021 to November 2021. She was a candidate in the [[2021 Scottish Labour leadership election]] and served on the Scottish Parliament's Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.
== Early life and career == Lennon was born in [[Bellshill]] and raised in [[Blantyre, South Lanarkshire]], the daughter of Gerard Ward, a council health and safety manager, and his wife Helen. She attended the co-educational Roman Catholic [[John Ogilvie High School]] in [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]].<ref name=":0" /> She studied environmental planning at the [[University of Strathclyde]], graduating with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in 2001. While studying she lived with her father. Her parents had separated, and later divorced, as a result of her father's drinking which developed into severe alcoholism.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/msp-monica-lennon-reveals-anger-guilt-and-sadness-at-devastation-inflicted-by-her-dads-drink-problem/|title=MSP Monica Lennon reveals anger, guilt and sadness at devastation inflicted by her dad's drink problem|last=Wilson|first=Jim|website=Sunday Post|date=8 October 2017|language=en-US|access-date=18 October 2019}}</ref>
From 2001 to 2007, Lennon worked as a planning officer for [[South Lanarkshire Council]]. She married at the age of 24 but felt forced to exclude her father from the wedding because of his alcoholism; he died at the age of 60.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-41747975|title=MSP didn't invite alcoholic father to wedding|date=26 October 2017|publisher=BBC News|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref>
After leaving South Lanarkshire Council, she worked as a surveyor for commercial property consultancy [[Knight Frank]], also freelancing as a planning consultant, until her election in 2012.<ref name=":0" />
== Political career == In the [[2012 South Lanarkshire Council election]], Lennon was elected to represent the [[Hamilton North and East (ward)|Hamilton North and East]] ward. In the [[2016 Scottish Parliament election]], she was second on [[Scottish Labour Party|Scottish Labour's]] [[Central Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Central Scotland]] regional list and was elected as a [[Member of the Scottish Parliament]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/scotland-regions/S17000009|title=Election 2016: Central Scotland. Scottish Parliament region|date=6 May 2016|work=BBC News}}</ref> Shortly after being elected she was appointed by leader [[Kezia Dugdale]] as Shadow Minister for Inequalities, a role in which she campaigned to raise awareness about the need for women to check themselves for signs of breast cancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/i-fright-dismissed-it-msps-9624460|title=MSP's breast cancer scare after waiting a month to go to GP|last=Barnes|first=Julie-Anne|date=2017-01-15|website=Daily Record|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref>
In the [[2017 Scottish Labour leadership election]], Lennon nominated fellow Central Scotland MSP and left-wing ally [[Richard Leonard]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/pages/nominations-2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916010959/http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/pages/nominations-2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-09-16|title=Nominations 2017|publisher=Scottish Labour Party|date=2017-09-16|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> In December 2017, Leonard announced his new [[Opposition Shadow Cabinets of the Scottish Parliament|frontbench]] in which she was promoted to [[Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government|Spokesperson for Communities and Local Government]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2017/12/richard-leonards-new-scottish-shadow-cabinet/|title=New Scottish shadow cabinet in full|date=2017-12-19|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref> [[File:Monica Lennon (25935373444) (1).jpg|left|180px|thumb|Lennon in 2016]] In November 2017, Lennon went public with how she was sexually assaulted by a Labour colleague at a party in 2013, while other colleagues brushed off the incident. Following revelations of similar incidents within the party, she argued that the party and British politics had an institutional problem with sexual assault and harassment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/labour-msp-monica-lennon-reveals-11469112|title=Labour MSP Monica Lennon reveals she was sexually assaulted by colleague|last=McGinty|first=Brendan|date=2017-11-05|website=Daily Record|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref>
On 6 September 2018, Lennon made a speech in which she spoke of a constituent who had committed suicide shortly after Christmas 2017. The constituent pleaded with health services for help eight times in the six days directly before he died, but was either turned away or referred elsewhere. Lennon asked [[Nicola Sturgeon]] to take urgent action to review suicide prevention procedures in NHS Lanarkshire.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/sp/?id=2018-09-06.19.0&s=suicide+2018-09-01..2018-09-06+speaker:25516|title=Young People (Mental Wellbeing): 6 Sep 2018: Scottish Parliament debates|website=TheyWorkForYou|language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref>
In an October 2018 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle, Lennon was again promoted to [[Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport|Spokesperson for Health and Sport]], replacing Richard Leonard's former leadership rival [[Anas Sarwar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45749855|title=Sarwar and Baillie out in Scottish Labour reshuffle|last=Scotland|first=BBC|date=2018-10-04|website=BBC News|access-date=2018-10-04}}</ref> She used the position to campaign for institutions to provide free [[menstrual hygiene products]], to tackle [[period poverty]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,monica-lennon-launches-her-period-poverty-bill_10198.htm|title=Monica Lennon launches her period poverty bill|date=2019-10-04|website=Holyrood Website|language=en|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref> [[The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act]] was enacted in November 2020.<ref name=Guardian_Brooks>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/24/scotland-becomes-first-nation-to-provide-free-period-products-for-all | author=Libby Brooks |title=Scotland becomes first nation to provide free period products for all |newspaper=Guardian |date=24 November 2020 |access-date=27 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-24|title=Period poverty: Scotland first in world to make period products free|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51629880|access-date=2021-01-01}}</ref>
Along with [[Neil Findlay]], Lennon abstained on an SNP government bill in favour of a [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|second Scottish independence referendum]]. This was against their party's whip, which was to vote against the bill.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/labour-msps-break-party-whip-21130419|title=Labour MSPs break party whip by abstaining on SNP IndyRef2 Bill at Holyrood|last=Hutcheon|first=Paul|date=2019-12-19|website=dailyrecord|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>
Following the resignation of Richard Leonard, Lennon joined the [[2021 Scottish Labour leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brooks|first=Libby|date=2021-01-18|title=MSP Monica Lennon joins Anas Sarwar in race to lead Scottish Labour|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/18/msp-monica-lennon-joins-anas-sarwar-in-race-to-lead-scottish-labour|access-date=2021-01-18|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> During the campaign, Lennon said she would not oppose a [[Proposed second Scottish independence referendum|second Scottish independence referendum]] although would argue for an alternative [[Devo Max]] option.<ref name=scotsman-20210119>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/monica-lennon-insists-scottish-labour-should-not-stand-way-second-scottish-independence-referendum-3105531 |title=Monica Lennon insists Scottish Labour should not stand in the way of a second Scottish independence referendum |last=Marlborough |first=Conor |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=19 January 2021 |access-date=19 January 2021}}</ref> She commented that the [[war on drugs]] had failed and drug laws should be devolved to Scotland and drugs decriminalised. She also said people across the UK "deserve a public health approach that meets their needs".<ref>{{Cite tweet |user= MonicaLennon7 |last= Lennon |first= Monica |number= 1359150689713336341 |title= The war on drugs has failed. The Misuse of Drugs Act is not fit for purpose. In the @scottishlabour leadership debate I have made it clear that we need radical change. Devolve and decriminalise. Across the UK people deserve a public health approach that meets their needs.}}</ref> She pledged to end the care home "dementia tax" and said Scottish Labour with her as leader would commit to reviewing social care policies to ensure people with advanced dementia receive equal treatment. She has backed Alzheimer Scotland's Fair Dementia Care campaign.<ref>{{cite news |last= Wilson |first= Caroline |date= 10 February 2021 |title= Labour leadership hopeful Monica Lennon vows to end care home 'dementia tax' |url= https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19072301.labour-leadership-hopeful-monica-lennon-vows-end-care-home-dementia-tax/?ref=twtrec |work= The Herald |access-date= 11 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.alzscot.org/our-work/campaigning-for-change/current-campaigns/fair-dementia-care |title= Fair Dementia Care |website= Alzheimer Scotland |access-date= 11 February 2021}}</ref> She was defeated by her rival Anas Sarwar.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bryan|first=Matt|date=2021-01-22|title=MSP Monica Lennon in Scottish Labour leadership bid|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/msp-monica-lennon-scottish-labour-23359384|access-date=2021-02-06|website=Daily Record|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|title=Anas Sarwar elected as new leader of Scottish Labour Party|url=https://labourlist.org/2021/02/anas-sarwar-elected-as-new-leader-of-scottish-labour-party/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=LabourList|date=27 February 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Carrell|first=Severin|title=Anas Sarwar wins Scottish Labour leadership election|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/27/anas-sarwar-wins-scottish-labour-leadership-election|access-date=28 February 2021|work=The Guardian|date=27 February 2021}}</ref>
In 2020, Lennon was selected as the [[Labour Co-operative|Scottish Labour Co-operative]] candidate in [[Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse]] in the [[2021 Scottish Parliament election]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Scottish Parliament elections (Constituencies): The 4 candidates in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse|url=https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/sp.c.hamilton-larkhall-and-stonehouse.2021-05-06/hamilton-larkhall-and-stonehouse/|access-date=2021-05-08|website=Who Can I Vote For? by Democracy Club|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/monicalennon7/status/1382395293396787204|title=Watch and share my election video to help elect a local champion for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.<br/>I'm proud to be the @ScottishLabour and @ScotCoopParty candidate for my home constituency. #Monica4HLS #BothVotesLabour #SP2021|access-date=2021-05-08|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> This was the first time she had stood as a joint [[Scottish Labour]] and [[Co-operative Party|Co-operative]] candidate. She was defeated by incumbent [[Christina McKelvie]] of the SNP, but was re-elected via the Central region list.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Fraser N.|date=2021-05-07|title=HOLYROOD 2021: SNP hold onto Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/holyrood-2021-labour-make-gains-24063726|access-date=2021-05-08|website=Daily Record|language=en}}</ref>
In the wake of [[anti-abortion]] protests in Glasgow in the spring of 2022, Lennon called for an emergency summit in Holyrood.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/lennon-abortion-protests-summit/|title=Calls for "emergency summit" over anti-abortion protests|last=Michie|first=Lewis|date=3 May 2022|website=Clyde 1|access-date=4 May 2022|language=en}}</ref>
Lennon was one of 5 Labour MSPs who was absent for a Scottish Parliament vote calling for the UK Government to reverse its decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutcheon |first=Paul |date=2024-10-09 |title=Winter Fuel Payment rebel breaks silence on why he defied Anas Sarwar |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/winter-fuel-payment-rebel-breaks-33853618 |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Daily Record |language=en}}</ref>
At the [[2026 Scottish Parliament election]], Lennon stood as the Scottish Labour candidate for the [[Rutherglen and Cambuslang]] constituency. She was defeated by the incumbent SNP MSP [[Clare Haughey]], who received 14,969 votes (44.2%) to Lennon's 9,125 (26.9%). Lennon was not elected via the [[Glasgow (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|Glasgow]] regional list, and therefore left the Scottish Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scottish Election 2026: Full Results for EVERY Glasgow constituency |url=https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/scottish-election-2026-full-results-33916180 |work=Glasgow Live |date=9 May 2026 |access-date=9 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Monica Lennon |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/msp/25516/monica_lennon |website=TheyWorkForYou |access-date=9 May 2026}}</ref>
== Personal life == Lennon is married to Jim Lennon and has one daughter, Isabella.<ref name=":1" /> She is a feminist and a vegetarian, and suffers from [[ailurophobia]], an irrational fear of cats.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,getting-to-know-you-monica-lennon_14043.htm|title=Getting to know you: Monica Lennon|last=Shannon|first=Kate|date=24 January 2017|website=Holyrood Magazine|access-date=14 August 2019|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{SP-MSP}}
{{Former Labour MSPs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lennon, Monica}} [[Category:1981 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Bellshill]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Strathclyde]] [[Category:Scottish urban planners]] [[Category:Women urban planners]] [[Category:Labour MSPs]] [[Category:Labour Co-operative MSPs]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021]] [[Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026]] [[Category:Female members of the Scottish Parliament]] [[Category:Scottish Labour councillors]] [[Category:Councillors in South Lanarkshire]] [[Category:Politicians from South Lanarkshire]] [[Category:People from Blantyre, South Lanarkshire]] [[Category:People educated at John Ogilvie High School]] [[Category:Women councillors in Scotland]]