David Marshall

Labour MP Glasgow Shettleston

Date of birth

7 May 1941

Political profile

David Marshall has sat on the Labour benches since 1979, but has never held any frontbench positions.

He has instead chaired two select committees, Transport and Scottish Affairs.

He has always been on the left of the Labour Party, and co-nominated Tony Benn in his campaign for the Deputy Leadership in 1981.

He opposed the Gulf War, and has voted against the Blair government on many occasions, especially over cuts in benefits.

Recently, he has had a low profile in the Commons, and has concentrated on the problems of chronic employment and drug abuse in his constituency.

The latter has long been a concern of his - he successfully piloted a bill through the Commons in 1983, making solvent abusers liable to care orders.

He is less socially radical than many Labour MPs, and opposed the lowering of the age of consent for gay men.

Contact

Commons officer: 020 7219 5134