Gavin Strang

Labour MP Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

Date of birth

10 July 1943

Education

Morrison's Academy
Edinburgh University (BSc 1964)
Churchill College, Cambridge University (DipAgriSci)
Edinburgh University (PhD)

Non-political career

Member, Tayside Economic Planning Consultative Group 1966-68
Scientist, Agricultural Research Council 1968-70

Electoral history

Member for Edinburgh East 1970-97, and for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh since May 1, 1997

Political profile

Gavin Strang was one of the first casualties of the Blair government.

When Labour came to power in 1997, he became minister for transport and sat by invitation in the Cabinet.

It would have been suprising if he had been left out of the executive, having been an MP since 1970, serving as a minister under both Wilson and Callaghan and sitting on the front bench throughout Labour's 18 years of opposition.

However, rumours about his imminent sacking abounded early on and were fulfilled in 1998.

Since his return to the back benches, Mr Strang has continued to take a strong interest in transport, articulating the same pro-public transport, anti-road views which he held in office.

He was also responsible for leading the substantial rebellion against the part-privatisation of the National Air Traffic System (NATS).

Otherwise, he has concentrated on co-ordinating regeneration projects within his constituency, and on rural affairs - he is a former agricultural research scientist.

Contact

020 7219 4032

[e-mail]