Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Cathy Jamieson was born in Kilmarnock, and attended Bentinck Primary School, prior to James Hamilton Academy, where she was one of the first pupils to benefit from comprehensive education in Ayrshire.
Higher Education
1975-79 Glasgow School of Art BA (Hons) Fine Art
1979-80 Goldsmiths College,University of London - Postgraduate Higher Diploma in Art (Art Therapy)
1981-1983 Glasgow University - Diploma in Social Work ( CQSW )
1996 Glasgow Caledonian University - Certificate in Management
Employment
1980 - 1992 Front line social work posts in area teams and specialist projects for young people in trouble, in Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. Senior Social Work post in alternative to care project for young people at risk and in trouble in Ayrshire.
1992-1999 Principal Officer of Who Cares? Scotland, the advocacy organisation for children and young people in residential care. While in this post, Cathy served on the management and advisory boards of a number of child care organisations; contributed to publications and policy development on childrens rights; child care; work with young people who offend; youth work and residential child care. She also provided inputs to various social care and social work training courses.
Scottish Parliament
Elected as Labour & Co-operative MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley in 1999, she stood down in 2011, after being elected to Westminster as Labour & Co-op MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun.
Initially Cathy served on the Transport and Environment Committee, and was Deputy Convenor of the European Committee. She joined the Education Committee during its Inquiry into the SQA, and also spent time on the Rural Affairs Committee.
In 2001, she was appointed Minister for Education and Young People, and steered legislation on child protection and reform of the SQA through Parliament, as well as commencing the biggest school building programme in a generation, and modernising Social Work education.
Following the 2003 election, she was appointed Justice Minister, and held this post until May 2007, when the administration changed. In addition to taking a substantial Justice legislative programme through parliament ( 14 Bills including Court Reform; Vulnerable Witnesses; Management of Offenders, Policing; Family Law; Legal Aid and Legal Profession, Scottish Commission on Human Rights) she took a leading role on anti social behaviour, tackling violence and sectarianism and commissioned a major review of Scotland's Civil Justice system.
Following the 2007 Election, Cathy served as Labour's Parliamentary Business Manager, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Regeneration.
She was Deputy Leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament from 2000 to June 2008.
Westminster
Cathy was elected as MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun in May 2010, with a majority of 12,378. She has served as a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. She is currently the Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury and a member of the Committee on Members Expenses.
She is involved in a number of All Party Groups.
Outside of politics
Cathy's interests include art, photography, walking, Burns and local history. A fanatical Kilmarnock F.C. supporter, she also follows her local junior team, Auchinleck Talbot. In addition to appearances on political programmes, including BBC Question Time, she has made guest appearances on 'Offside' and 'Off the Ball' and was featured as one of BBC Alba's Celebrity Fans.
In November 2009, she completed a charity trek in Nepal, raising over £5000 for Who Cares?Scotland and Community Action Nepal.
During the year that she was both an MSP and MP, she donated her MSP salary to Who Cares?Scotland and veterans' organisation Combat Stress.
Married with one son, she lives in her Kilmarnock and Loudoun Constituency - in the heart of Burns country in Mauchline - and makes no apologies for speaking with an Ayrshire accent!