Stewart McDonald (politician)

Stewart McDonald was born on 25 August 1986 in Glasgow. His family moved to Govan when he was five years old, as his father was a janitor at a local primary school. He left Govan High School aged eighteen, and worked in a variety of jobs including as a retail manager and a holiday rep in Tenerife before becoming a parliamentary case worker for Anne McLaughlin.{{cite web |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/analysis-snp-bucks-trend-for-privately-educated-mps.126940798 |title=Analysis: SNP bucks trend for privately educated MPs |publisher=The Herald |work=David Leask |date=1 June 2015 |access-date=1 June 2015 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214120410/http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/scottish-politics/analysis-snp-bucks-trend-for-privately-educated-mps.126940798 |url-status=live }} After the 2011 Scottish Parliament Election, he became a case worker for James Dornan.{{cite news |url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/battle-for-glasgow-187629n.25799678 |title=General election: battle for Glasgow |first=Stewart |last=Paterson |work=Evening Times |publisher=Newsquest |date=7 November 2014 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202001915/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/battle-for-glasgow-187629n.25799678 |url-status=live }}

At the 2015 general election, McDonald was elected to Parliament as MP for Glasgow South with 54.9% of the vote and a majority of 12,269.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/S14000034 |title=Glasgow South Parliamentary constituency |work=BBC Election 2015 |date=8 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913122943/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/S14000034 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |title=25Aug15 |url=http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10527 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040649/http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10527 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=25 August 2015}}

In December 2015, McDonald came second place in the Beard Liberation Front's Parliamentary Beard of the Year Award.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/14900780.Stewart_McDonald_is_within_a_whisker_of_triumph_in_Parliamentary_Beard_of_the_Year_contest/|title=Stewart McDonald is within a whisker of triumph in Parliamentary Beard of the Year contest|website=The National|date=5 December 2015 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-19|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005959/http://www.thenational.scot/news/14900780.Stewart_McDonald_is_within_a_whisker_of_triumph_in_Parliamentary_Beard_of_the_Year_contest/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/11/jeremy-corbyn-parliamentary-beard-of-the-year-victory|title=Jeremy Corbyn wins parliamentary beard of the year by a whisker|last=Perraudin|first=Frances|date=2015-12-11|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-08-19|archive-date=31 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831214658/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/11/jeremy-corbyn-parliamentary-beard-of-the-year-victory|url-status=live}} He was reported to have come very close to winning first place, but was narrowly defeated by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn after Diane Abbott urged people on Twitter to vote for Corbyn in the contest.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-corbyn-wins-parliamentary-beard-6991550|title=Jeremy Corbyn 'has won Beard of the Year by a whisker' after a last-minute surge|last=Bloom|first=Dan|date=2015-12-10|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=2018-08-19|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005832/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jeremy-corbyn-wins-parliamentary-beard-6991550|url-status=live}}

McDonald was re-elected as MP for Glasgow South at the snap 2017 general election with a decreased vote share of 41.1% and a decreased majority of 2,027.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/S14000034|title=Glasgow South parliamentary constituency – Election 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-GB|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002101812/https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/S14000034|url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=29 January 2019 |orig-date=7 April 2018 |title=Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112183438/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2019 |publisher=House of Commons Library |edition=Second}}

In July 2017 McDonald introduced a Private Members' Bill to ban unpaid trial shifts for workers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/stewart-mcdonald-unpaid-shifts_uk_59db4b9ae4b0f6eed351777d|title=Unpaid Trial Shifts: Young People Working 40 Hours For Free In Desperate Bids To Find Jobs|date=2017-10-09|work=HuffPost UK|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025722/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/stewart-mcdonald-unpaid-shifts_uk_59db4b9ae4b0f6eed351777d|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/unpaid-work-trials-snp-mp-stewart-mcdonald-private-members-bill-ban-mooboo-bubble-tea-a7843266.html|title=MP launches bid to outlaw 'unscrupulous' unpaid work trials|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816031022/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/unpaid-work-trials-snp-mp-stewart-mcdonald-private-members-bill-ban-mooboo-bubble-tea-a7843266.html|url-status=live}} He called the practice "exploitation" for young job-seekers, with his Bill gaining the support of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the National Union of Students among others.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42466238|title=Campaign to end unpaid 'trial shifts'|date=2017-12-24|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025651/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42466238|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.holyrood.com/articles/news/stewart-mcdonald-introduces-private-members-bill-ban-unpaid-trial-shifts|title=Stewart McDonald introduces private members' bill to ban unpaid trial shifts|date=2017-07-17|work=Holyrood Magazine|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816031039/https://www.holyrood.com/articles/news/stewart-mcdonald-introduces-private-members-bill-ban-unpaid-trial-shifts|url-status=live}} In March 2018 the Bill was talked out of the Commons, meaning it could not be voted on.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-43433638|title=MP's bid to ban unpaid trial shifts fails|date=2018-03-16|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025455/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-43433638|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/16093301.MP_vows_to_fight_on_after_Bill_banning_unpaid_trial_shifts_is_talked_out/|title=MP vows to fight on after Bill banning unpaid trial shifts is talked out|website=The National|date=16 March 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-08-15|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025827/http://www.thenational.scot/news/16093301.MP_vows_to_fight_on_after_Bill_banning_unpaid_trial_shifts_is_talked_out/|url-status=live}} A year on from when he first introduced the Bill, he vowed to "keep fighting" to end unpaid trial work.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/snp-mp-who-tried-introduce-12944339|title=SNP MP vows to keep fighting against exploitative unpaid trial shifts|last=McDonald|first=Stewart|date=2018-07-19|work=Daily Record|access-date=2018-08-15|archive-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816025838/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/snp-mp-who-tried-introduce-12944339|url-status=live}}

On 11 April 2018, as the SNP's Defence Spokesperson, McDonald warned Prime Minister Theresa May over launching airstrikes on Syria in response to the Douma chemical attack without first having the airstrikes approved by a parliamentary vote.{{Cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-call-for-commons-vote-on-uk-role-in-syria-1-4722229|title=SNP call for Commons vote on UK role in Syria|date=11 April 2018|work=The Scotsman|access-date=19 August 2018|language=en|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005828/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-call-for-commons-vote-on-uk-role-in-syria-1-4722229|url-status=live}} He said the SNP would support such airstrikes if they were part of a wider plan to bring an end to the war.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/16154997.SNP_MP_warns_May_over_launching_strikes_on_Syria/|title=SNP MP warns May over launching strikes on Syria|last=Paterson|first=Stewart|date=11 April 2018|website=Evening Times|language=en|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005742/http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/16154997.SNP_MP_warns_May_over_launching_strikes_on_Syria/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/snp-urges-may-to-rethink-syria-raids-bj8j3pk6m|title=SNP urges May to rethink Syria raids|last=Macdonell|first=Hamish|date=2018-04-12|work=The Times|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005917/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/snp-urges-may-to-rethink-syria-raids-bj8j3pk6m|url-status=live}} The UK launched airstrikes on 14 April without a parliamentary vote, which McDonald condemned as "gesture bombing".{{Cite news|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/snp/nicola-sturgeon/news/94378/snp-accuse-theresa-may-gesture-bombing-over|title=SNP accuse Theresa May of 'gesture bombing' over Syria military action|last=Schofield|first=Kevin|date=2018-04-14|work=Politics Home|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820074543/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/snp/nicola-sturgeon/news/94378/snp-accuse-theresa-may-gesture-bombing-over|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/there-no-peace-strategy-scots-12361076|title=Scots {{as written|polit|icans [sic]}} blast Theresa May as Britain launches air strikes on Syria|last=Cullen|first=Ellie|date=2018-04-14|work=Daily Record|access-date=2018-08-19|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005932/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/there-no-peace-strategy-scots-12361076|url-status=live}}

In August 2018, McDonald gave his support for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention to be available on the NHS.{{Cite news |title=MPs Warn Delay In HIV Prevention Drug Will Lead To Death Of Hundreds |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/mps-accuse-minister-of-having-head-in-the-sand-over-hiv-prev |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005010/https://www.buzzfeed.com/patrickstrudwick/mps-accuse-minister-of-having-head-in-the-sand-over-hiv-prev |archive-date=26 August 2018 |access-date=2018-08-25 |work=BuzzFeed |language=en}} He said that those opposing PrEP's introduction to the NHS were being homophobic,{{Cite news |title=There's a whiff of homophobia surrounding the PrEP debate |url=http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2016/08/03/there-s-a-whiff-of-homophobia-surrounding-the-prep-debate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005030/http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2016/08/03/there-s-a-whiff-of-homophobia-surrounding-the-prep-debate |archive-date=26 August 2018 |access-date=2018-08-25 |work=politics.co.uk |language=en}} and accused the UK government of "putting more hurdles in the way of the rollout of PrEP".{{Cite news |date=2017-04-11 |title=PrEP: The Right Thing To Do And A Reminder Of Just How Wrong We Were |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stewart-mcdonald-mp/prep-scotland_b_15933454.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005127/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stewart-mcdonald-mp/prep-scotland_b_15933454.html |archive-date=26 August 2018 |access-date=2018-08-25 |work=HuffPost UK |language=en-GB}}

McDonald has been a long-time supporter of transgender rights, and reforming the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) in Scotland to make it easier for people to self-identify. He said in November 2019 that "I've always stood up for trans rights and I always will – there's no chance I'll desert a community that's integral to our wider movement for equality".{{cite tweet |number=1192076794607915009 |user=stewartmcdonald |title=I've always stood up for trans rights and I always will – there's no chance I'll desert a community that's integral to our wider movement for equality |author=Stewart McDonald MP |access-date=1 October 2021 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217100522/https://twitter.com/StewartMcDonald/status/1192076794607915009 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live}} He had declared his support for Nicola Sturgeon in April 2019 when some SNP groups objected to her support of reforming the GRA.{{Cite news |date=2019-04-17 |title=SNP MSPs criticise Nicola Sturgeon over trans rights |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47960446 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102152540/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47960446 |archive-date=2 November 2020 |access-date=2020-12-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

At the 2019 general election, McDonald was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 48.1% and an increased majority of 9,005 votes.{{Cite news |title=Glasgow South parliamentary constituency – Election 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/S14000034 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002101812/https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/S14000034 |archive-date=2 October 2019 |access-date=2019-12-16 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |date=28 January 2020 |title=Commons Briefing Paper 8749. General Election 2019: results and analysis |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118043715/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8749/CBP-8749.pdf |archive-date=18 November 2021 |access-date=19 January 2022 |publisher=House of Commons Library |location=London}}{{cite news|url=https://www.glasgowworld.com/news/people/general-election-2019-snp-hold-glasgow-central-and-glasgow-south-seats-2514525|title=General Election 2019: SNP hold Glasgow Central and Glasgow South seats|last=Renton|first=Dawn|date=13 December 2019|work=Glasgow World|access-date=24 February 2022}}

McDonald is a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.{{Cite web |title=Stewart McDonald MP |url=https://ipac.global/team/stewart-mcdonald-mp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125102338/https://ipac.global/team/stewart-mcdonald-mp/ |archive-date=25 January 2021 |access-date=28 December 2020 |website=Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China |language=en-GB}} In September 2021, McDonald said he was troubled by Scotland's relationship with China, which he claimed "opened the doorway to misinformation from Beijing".{{Cite web |last=Mackay |first=Neil |title=Neil Mackay's Big Read: SNP MP's warning over Russian disinformation ops targeting Indyref2 |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19605624.neil-mackays-big-read-snp-mps-warning-russian-disinformation-ops-targeting-indyref2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926223931/https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19605624.neil-mackays-big-read-snp-mps-warning-russian-disinformation-ops-targeting-indyref2/ |archive-date=26 September 2021 |access-date=26 September 2021 |website=The Herald |date=26 September 2021 |language=en}} He also claimed Russia has a history of disinformation running in Scotland and reported the show run by Alex Salmond (The Alex Salmond Show) on RT "lends credibility and legitimacy to Kremlin propaganda".

McDonald is a republican and in January 2023 called for a debate over the existence of the British monarchy in an independent Scotland.{{cite news |last=Brawn |first=Steph |date=26 January 2023 |title='SNP should debate monarchy views as coronation approaches' |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23277330.snp-debate-monarchy-views-coronation-approaches/ |accessdate=26 January 2023 |work=The National}}

In June 2024, McDonald was reselected as the SNP candidate for Glasgow South at the 2024 general election,https://glasgow.gov.uk/media/12225/Glasgow-South/pdf/SOUTH_-_SOPN_and_NOP.pdf?m=1717783316367 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} but was defeated by the Labour candidate, Gordon McKee.

McDonald is gay, and on 19 May 2015 gathered with other LGBT SNP MPs to campaign for a "Yes" vote in the Irish referendum on same-sex marriage, being held three days later.{{Cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/sirajdatoo/the-snp-wants-a-yes-vote-again |title="The Gayest Group in Westminster" is urging Ireland to vote Yes to same-sex marriage |work=BuzzFeed |date=19 May 2015 |access-date=12 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093141/http://www.buzzfeed.com/sirajdatoo/the-snp-wants-a-yes-vote-again |url-status=live }} He is also an honorary associate of the National Secular Society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/stewart-mcdonald-mp.html|title=Stewart McDonald MP|website=www.secularism.org.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-09-18|archive-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605094613/https://www.secularism.org.uk/stewart-mcdonald-mp.html|url-status=live}}

• 45px 2019: Third Class of the Order of Merit of Ukraine{{Cite web|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/article/opinion/op-ed/jack-laurenson-ukraines-friend-and-foe-of-the-week-7.html|title=Jack Laurenson: Ukraine's Friend and Foe of the Week {{!}} KyivPost – Ukraine's Global Voice|website=KyivPost|access-date=2020-02-25|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221183856/https://www.kyivpost.com/article/opinion/op-ed/jack-laurenson-ukraines-friend-and-foe-of-the-week-7.html|url-status=live}}

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• [https://www.snp.org/your-team/stewart-mcdonald/ SNP profile]
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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:Scottish gay politicians

Category:LGBTQ members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

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Category:People educated at Govan High School

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Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class

Category:Scottish National Party MPs

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