Andy MacNae

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Andy MacNae

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MP}}

| image = Official portrait of Andy MacNae MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2024

| office = Member of Parliament
for Rossendale and Darwen

| predecessor = Jake Berry

| term_start = 4 July 2024

| term_end =

| majority = 5,628 (12.6%)

| office3 = Member of Rossendale Borough Council for Greensclough

| term_start3 = 5 May 2011

| term_end3 = 7 May 2015

| majority3 =

| predecessor3 =

| successor3 =

| office4 = Member of Rossendale Borough Council
for Irwell
Hareholme (2016–2021)
Stacksteads (2021–2023)

| term_start4 = 5 May 2016

| term_end4 = 2 May 2024

| majority4 =

| predecessor4 =

| successor4 =

| birth_name = Andrew Clive Mitchell MacNae

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|04|29}}

| birth_place =

| party = Labour

| education = Sir John Deane's College

| residence = Rossendale, Lancashire, England

| alma_mater = University College London{{cite web|url=https://www.mef.org.uk/uploads/uploads/MEF-92-34.pdf|title=British Shani North Face Expedition 1992 Final Report|publisher=Mount Everest Foundation}}
University of Leeds{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/alumni-community/doc/who-studied-here|title=Who studied here?|publisher=University of Leeds}}
Alliance Manchester Business School (MBA)

| website = www.andymacnaemp.com

}}

Andy MacNae (born 29 April 1965{{cite web |last1=MacNae |first1=Andy |title=Birthday Post |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/fHe85EypLUqxLep7/ |access-date=10 July 2024 |website=Facebook}}) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Rossendale and Darwen since 2024.{{Cite news |title=Rossendale and Darwen – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001450 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Education and professional career

MacNae was born in Southern England but moved around due to his father being in the Royal Air Force and later a commercial pilot. MacNae's mother Morag was Scottish and her maiden name was McNee. MacNae's maternal grandmother Charlotte R McNee stood unsuccessfully for the Liberals in the former parliamentary constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands in the 1950 general election.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/15084|title=1950 - 1950 General Election - Edinburgh Pentlands|publisher=UK Parliament|accessdate=12 January 2025}} The family lived for some time in Scotland and Manchester before moving to Northwich in Cheshire, living in the Winnington area of the town.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001733/19930908/003/0003|title=The height of achievement|first=Jim|last=Brakell|date=8 September 1993|work=Northwich Chronicle}}

MacNae attended Sir John Deane's College{{cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003643/19890705/015/0015|title=Andy all set to scale unclimbed peak|date=5 July 1989|accessdate=10 January 2025|work=Winsford Chronicle}} before going to University College London to study astrophysics.{{cite web|url=https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200044300/Yossi-Brain-1967-1999|title=Yossi Brain, 1967-1999|publisher=American Alpine Club|first=Andy|last=MacNae|date=2000}} In 1994 he gained a Masters qualification in Environmental Pollution Control from the University of Leeds.{{cite web|url=https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-university/news/article/5605/university-alum-becomes-uk-prime-minister|title=University alum becomes UK Prime Minister|date=5 July 2024|publisher=University of Leeds}} He went on to earn a Master of Business Administration degree from the Alliance Manchester Business School.

At university he became an avid mountaineer, joining the North London Mountaineering Club and climbing Mount Kenya along with a 1988 climb of Shani Peak in the Karakoram range. He also climbed routes in the Alps, routes in Zimbabwe and an attempt at Meru Peak. In 1992 MacNae made the second ever ascent of Chomochior in the Kishtwar Himalaya.{{cite journal|url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/53/14/a-peak-baggers-guide-to-the-eastern-kishtwar/|title=A PEAK BAGGER'S GUIDE TO THE EASTERN KISHTWAR|first=Simon|last=Richardson|journal=Himalayan Journal|publisher=Himalayan Club|issue=57|date=1997}}{{cite web|url=https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199224004/Asia-IndiaKashmir-and-Jammu-Cerro-Kishtwar-Attempt|title=Asia, India–Kashmir and Jammu, Cerro Kishtwar Attempt|first=Andy|last=MacNae|date=1992|publisher=American Alpine Club}} In 1994 he was the party leader for a climb on Gasherbrum IV{{cite web|url=https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12199425203/Asia-Pakistan-Gasherbrum-IV-Attempt|title=Asia, Pakistan, Gasherbrum IV Attempt|first=Andy|last=MacNae|date=1994|publisher=American Alpine Club}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1994_files/AJ%201994%20267-272%20Pakistan.pdf|title=Pakistan 1933|first=Paul|last=Nunn|journal=Alpine Journal|publisher=Alpine Club|page=269|date=1994}} and then in 1996 to scale Baintha Brakk.{{cite journal|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1997_files/AJ%201997%20103-106%20Dickinson%20Ogre.pdf|title=The Challenge of the Ogre|journal=Alpine Journal|publisher=Alpine Club|pages=103-106|date=1997|first=Matthew|last=Dickinson}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1997_files/AJ%201997%20289-297%20MEF%20Reports.pdf|title=Mount Everest Foundation Expedition Reports 1996|first=Bill|last=Ruthven|journal=Alpine Journal|publisher=Alpine Club|page=295, 296|date=1997}} In 1999 he climbed numerous glaciers within the Schweizerland range in Greenland.{{cite web|url=https://www.mef.org.uk/uploads/uploads/MEF-99-24.pdf|title=British Schweizerland Expedition 1999 - Final Report|date=1999|publisher=Mount Everest Foundation}}{{cite web|url=https://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12200023904/North-America-Greenland-Schweizerland-Various-Activity|title=North America, Greenland, Schweizerland, Various Activity|first=Al|last=Powell|date=2000|publisher=American Alpine Club}}

A keen cyclist, he is a trustee of Cycling UK.{{Cite news |work=Lancs Live|last=Macdonald |first=Robert |date=1 December 2023 |title=Biking Rossendale councillor with regeneration background chosen for Westminster election battle |url=https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/biking-rossendale-councillor-regeneration-background-28204608|access-date=7 July 2024 }} He is the director of Venture Extreme Consultancy Limited,{{Cite web |title=Andrew Clive Mitchell MACNAE personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/mr5FuoBNlycPUP_f7qNclWVncBQ/appointments |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}} whose website describes him as "a leading authority on the development of extreme sport and adventure destinations." MacNae joined the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) in 1995 and rose to become the National Officer and Deputy Chief Executive of the organisation.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/why-we-all-want-to-climb-every-mountain-1178949.html|title=Why we all want to climb every mountain|first=Matthew |last=Brace|date=17 October 1998|accessdate=10 January 2025|work=The Independent}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/savour-the-thrill-of-conquering-everest-with-no-risk-of-that-tiresome-frostbite-634425.html|title=Savour the thrill of conquering Everest, with no risk of that tiresome frostbite|first=Stephen |last=Goodwin|date=2 October 2000|accessdate=10 January 2025|work=The Independent}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/oct/28/stuartmillar|title=Peak claims climbing star|first=Stuart |last=Millar|date=28 October 1999|accessdate=10 January 2025|work=The Guardian}} He left the BMC in December 2002.{{cite web|url=https://dev.thebmc.co.uk/modules/article.aspx?id=501|title=Andy MacNae (1995-2002) and beyond…?| first=Alex|last=Messenger|date= 18 December 2002}} He progressed to become Chief Executive of Mountain Services (UK mountaineering’s commercial arm) at the Mountain Heritage Trust.{{Cite web |title=ABOUT ANDY |url=https://www.andymacnae.com/about-andy |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=Mysite |language=en}}

Political career

MacNae was elected as a councillor on Rossendale Borough Council in the 2011 election gaining the ward of Greensclough from the Conservatives.{{cite web|url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2016/256/|title=Local Election Results 2011 - Rossendale|publisher=Local Election Archive Project}} He lost the ward in the 2015 election{{cite web|url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2016/256/|title=Local Election Results 2015 - Rossendale|publisher=Local Election Archive Project}} by 10 votes before being reelected in the 2016 election for the ward of Hareholme.{{cite web|url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2016/256/|title=Local Election Results 2016 - Rossendale|publisher=Local Election Archive Project}} In the 2021 election he won the ward of Stacksteads.{{cite web|url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2021/256/|title=Local Election Results 2021 - Rossendale|publisher=Local Election Archive Project}} In the 2023 election he gained the seat of Irwell from the Conservatives.{{cite web|url=https://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2023/256/|title=Local Election Results 2023 - Rossendale|publisher=Local Election Archive Project}} As a councillor he held portfolio roles in leisure and regeneration.

In the 2024 general election MacNae won the seat of Rossendale and Darwen defeating Jake Berry who had held the seat since the 2010 general election. He had originally run for selection for the constituency in 2013 but lost out to Will Straw who failed to win the seat at the 2015 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24432869.labour-victory-rossendale-darwen-jake-berry-defeated/|title=Labour victory in Rossendale and Darwen as Jake Berry is defeated|first=Robbie|last=MacDonald|date=5 July 2024|accessdate=10 January 2025|work=Lancashire Telegraph}}

Personal life

MacNae and his wife Vanessa live in the borough of Rossendale. Vanessa is a health visitor. They have had two children together – a son, and a daughter who died soon after birth due to Edwards syndrome.{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24565574.rossendale-darwen-mp-speaks-loss-baby-daughter/|title=Rossendale and Darwen MP speaks of the loss of his daughter| first=Bill|last=Jacobs|date=6 September 2024|accessdate=10 January 2025|work=Lancashire Telegraph}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24562245.rossendale-darwens-mountaineer-mp-faces-political-challenges/|title=Potholes and public transport top of Andy MacNae's agenda|first=Bill|last=Jacobs|date=10 September 2024|accessdate=10 January 2025|work=Lancashire Telegraph}}

==Books==

{{cite book|title=Safety on Mountains

|last1=MacNae|first1=Andy|authorlink=Andy MacNae|last2=Last|first2=Adge|last3=Newton|first3=Andy|publisher=British Mountaineering Council|date= 2000|isbn=978-0-903908-27-6}}

{{cite journal|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_1994_files/AJ%201994%2035-37%20Macnae%20Chamonix.pdf|title=Avoiding the Chamonix Trade Routes|journal=Alpine Journal|publisher=Alpine Club|pages=35-38|date=1994|first=Andy|last=MacNae}}
{{cite journal|url=https://www.alpinejournal.org.uk/Contents/Contents_2017_files/AJ%202017%20135-138%20Macnae%20MEF%20Future.pdf|title=The Future of the MEF|journal=Alpine Journal|publisher=Alpine Club|pages=135-138|date=2017|first=Andy|last=MacNae}}