Helen McElhone

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Helen McElhone

| honorific-suffix =

| image =

| office = Member of Parliament
for Glasgow Queen's Park

| term_start = 3 December 1982

| term_end = 13 May 1983

| majority =

| predecessor = Frank McElhone

| successor = Constituency Abolished

| birth_name = Helen Margaret Brown

| birth_date = 10 April 1933

| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2013|06|5|1933|04|10}}

| death_place = Newton Mearns, Scotland

| nationality = British

| spouse = Frank McElhone

| party = Labour

| children = 4, including Johnny

| occupation = Shop worker

}}

Helen Margaret McElhone (née Brown; 10 April 1933 – 5 June 2013){{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/obituaries/helen-mcelhone.21288303 |title=Helen McElhone |publisher=The Herald |date=8 June 2013 |last=Torrance |first=David |authorlink=David Torrance (journalist)}} was a Scottish politician. She worked together with her husband, Frank McElhone, during his time as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Glasgow from 1969. After his sudden death, McElhone was elected as his successor; but within six months her Glasgow Queen's Park constituency was abolished in boundary changes and she lost out to a neighbouring MP in the selection for a new seat. She continued her political activity after leaving Parliament.

Background

McElhone was born Helen Margaret Brown in Glasgow, to a Roman Catholic family.{{cite ODNB|title = McElhone [née Brown], Helen Margaret (1933–2013), politician|doi = 10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.106936|last = Gay|first = Oonagh|date = 2018}} She married Frank McElhone in November 1958, and they had two sons and two daughters."McELHONE, Mrs Helen Margaret" in "Dod's Parliamentary Companion, 1983", Dod's Parliamentary Companion Ltd, 1983, p. 438. Both of their sons were involved in the band Altered Images, with Gerard serving as the band's manager and Johnny playing bass guitar. She "took an active interest" in the greengrocer's business run by her husband on Thistle Street in Gorbals for eight years."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_ehAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PKcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4637,2756367&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Family outing]", Glasgow Evening Times, 19 June 1970, p. 4. When he was elected to Parliament to represent Glasgow Gorbals in a 1969 by-election, she took over running the shop.Jonathan Wills, "Why this is McElhone country", The Times, 29 November 1982, p. 3. She became a member of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.

During Frank McElhone's time in Parliament, Helen McElhone was an active worker within his Constituency Labour Party and was regarded by some as the driving force behind her husband's career."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bMNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CqYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4006,2590263&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Mrs McElhone could fight Queen's Park]", Glasgow Herald, 14 October 1982, p. 1. She took constituency surgeries on his behalf when he was attending Parliament, and also sat in on committees in Westminster.Colm Brogan, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FsJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=96UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2217,964726&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Taking up the fight where Frank McElhone left off]", Glasgow Herald, 5 November 1982, p. 11.

By-election candidate

Frank McElhone died in Glasgow on 22 September 1982, while participating in a 'Day of Action' march and demonstration in support of National Health Service workers;"Mr Frank McElhone" (obituary), The Times, 24 September 1982, p. 14. his death meant a by-election must be held. His wife was not initially considered a likely candidate, but local party colleagues were said to have persuaded her to put her name forward for the selection contest. There were rival candidates including Jimmy Wray, who was a local councillor and had been Frank McElhone's election agent, but she picked up nominations from ward branches within the constituency."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cMNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CqYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3115,3607939&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en First victory for Mrs McElhone]", Glasgow Herald, 19 October 1982, p. 5. After a bitter contest within the local party, she defeated Wray for the selection on 3 November, 29 votes to 28."Worthy rivals will not stop MP's widow", The Times, 23 November 1982, p. 2.

One of the main issues in the by-election was the future of the chronically damp Hutchesontown E tower block in the constituency, although a debate called by the local residents' association drew few attendees."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AMNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AKYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4010,251113&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Stay-at-home night for Queen's Park voters]", Glasgow Herald, 2 December 1982, p. 1. McElhone called for the block to be demolished and proper council houses built.Carl Gordon, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JcJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=96UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2098,4520873&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Candidates attack housing conditions]", Glasgow Herald, 24 November 1982, p. 3. McElhone told a public meeting that electing her would not give the constituency "an MP aiming for the top of the political tree", but instead a "Glasgow housewife determined to look out for her own folk"."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IcJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=96UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5835,3484871&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Warm welcome for Tony Benn]", Glasgow Herald, 18 November 1982, p. 7. She was personally friendly with her Scottish National Party rival Peter Mallan, but a protest was entered on her behalf when he claimed that voters were disgruntled at her selection and that she was in a "fortunate position" compared with other widows.Iain Wilson, Tom Shields, "Row over 'gutter' SNP election battle", Glasgow Herald, 18 November 1982, p. 7. Reporters following the by-election noted that McElhone did not seek a sympathy vote.

Although supported by Tony Benn, for whom her husband had worked as his Parliamentary Private Secretary, McElhone disclaimed the label of 'Bennite'. She supported separate Roman Catholic schools, and opposed abortion while supporting nationalisation and unilateral nuclear disarmament.

Parliamentary career

On 2 December 1982 Queen's Park voters went to the polls; McElhone was elected with a majority of 5,694 votes over the Scottish National Party. She said that her victory was inevitably tinged with sadness, but was a triumphant night for the Labour Party.Tom Shields, Gordon Petrie, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AcNAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AKYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2200,440082&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Nationalists follow Labour home in low poll]", Glasgow Herald, 3 December 1982, p. 1. She made her maiden speech on 17 January 1983, in a debate on housing in Scotland, noting that her husband had chosen the same subject for his maiden speech. She criticised the past housing schemes in her constituency including the Hutchesontown C project by Sir Basil Spence, for which he had won awards but which had become uninhabitable owing to damp.[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1983/jan/17/housing-scotland#S6CV0035P0_19830117_HOC_494 Hansard], HC 6ser vol 35 cols 129-131. At Prime Minister's Questions on 17 February 1983, she accused Margaret Thatcher of misleading women with a confidence trick, and called for a June general election.[https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1983/feb/17/engagements#S6CV0037P0_19830217_HOC_137 Hansard], HC 6ser vol 37 col 464.

=Boundary changes=

Before McElhone was selected, it was known that boundary changes, due to take place at the following general election, would abolish the separate Glasgow Queen's Park constituency and merge the majority of it with parts of five others in the new Glasgow Central constituency."The BBC/ITN Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies", Parliamentary Research Services, 1983, pp. 70, 183. McElhone was determined to fight her corner, against Bob McTaggart (sitting MP for the old Glasgow Central constituency) and Jimmy Wray who insisted on his right to stand in the selection contest despite Labour Party rules rendering him ineligible.Graham Scott, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_w0-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=wEkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6151,797933&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Poll Choice Row]", Evening Times, 28 March 1983, p. 2. Wray was eventually ruled out,"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K8RAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8qUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5876,5781707&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Straight fight for Central]", Glasgow Herald, 30 April 1983, p. 3. and McTaggart was regarded as the favourite as he benefited from the votes of Wray's supporters.Andrew McCallum, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mMRAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9qUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3099,1922355&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Women to the fore in race for Parliament]", Glasgow Herald, 11 May 1983, p. 3. McTaggart won, and McElhone did not stand at the 1983 general election.

Post-parliamentary life

After her brief term in Parliament, McElhone fought for election to Strathclyde Regional Council in Bellahouston-Mosspark division in a by-election in March 1985,[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=395AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uqYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1820,5345799&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en "15 in line-up"], Evening Times, 28 February 1985, p. 18. and won with a majority of 1,632.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ee09AAAAIBAJ&sjid=wkgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4443,4747732&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en "McElhone makes return to politics"], Glasgow Herald, 22 March 1985, p. 5. She became vice-chairman of the Finance Committee in 1987, criticising the Government for reducing the rate support grant paid to councils.James Watson, Rob Robertson, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AN5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mqYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4087,4740245&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en "Cash cut not on, say the Region"], Evening Times, 21 July 1987, p. 4.

As a regional councillor in 1989, McElhone pressed for the development of a sports and community centre on waste ground opposite Ibrox Stadium, persuading the council, Rangers F.C. and the Scottish Development Agency to provide funding.Jim Gough, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y-NAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3076,6629674&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Hi, Neighbour]", Evening Times, 27 February 1989, p. 5. She was mentioned as a possible Labour candidate for the Glasgow Central seat after the death of Robert McTaggart in March 1989,Stuart Trotter, "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SjFAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NFkMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3413,1453430&dq=helen-mcelhone&hl=en Vital battle for Labour]", Glasgow Herald, 24 March 1989, p. 1. but decided not to run.

McElhone was one of five 'experienced members' named by the Scottish Labour Party to sit on a panel vetting applications to be Labour candidates at the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections. Members of the panel had to be people who were not interested in themselves standing.Robbie Dinwoodie, "McKenna chooses Westminster instead of standing for Holyrood", The Herald, 19 January 1998, p. 6. She joined an 'action group' campaigning for the Dixon Community, a voluntary group helping the elderly lead independent lives, which was facing closure because of the costs of repairing its headquarters building.Jack Irvine, "Why ignore the needy but help the greedy?", Daily Mirror, 19 November 1998, p. 17. She was also a member of an independent panel appointed by the House of Commons in 2000 to decide on an application by Railtrack to raise the roof of Edinburgh Waverley railway station."Panel chosen for Waverley bid", Edinburgh Evening News, 12 February 2000, p. 8.

McElhone died from heart failure in Newton Mearns on 5 June 2013, at the age of 80.

References

External links

[http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/1982/12/03/AS031282003 ITN news report] on the Queen's Park by-election, featuring Helen McElhone's victory speech

{{s-ttl

| title = Member of Parliament for Glasgow Queen's Park

| years = 1982 – 1983

}}

Category:1933 births

Category:2013 deaths

Category:20th-century Scottish politicians

Category:20th-century Scottish women politicians

Category:Deaths from congestive heart failure in the United Kingdom

Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies

Category:Gorbals

Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Glasgow constituencies