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Amy Callaghan
Amy Callaghan
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Amy Callaghan (born 21 May 1992)[2] is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who served as the member of parliament (MP) for East Dunbartonshire from 2019 until 2024.[3] She unseated the then Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, with a narrow majority of 149 votes or 0.3%, overturning her majority of 5,339 votes two years earlier.[4] She was SNP Health spokesperson since and sat on the Health and Social Care Select Committee during her time in Parliament.[5]

Key Information

Background

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Callaghan attended primary and secondary school in Clydebank.[6] She then attended the University of Strathclyde where she gained a BA Honours in politics.[6][7] Before pursuing a political career, Callaghan worked in retail, hospitality and social care. In 2015 she began her work with the SNP as a Parliamentary Assistant in the Scottish Parliament for the former Scottish Government Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Aileen McLeod MSP. Following the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, Callaghan worked as Office Manager to Rona Mackay, the MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden.[6]

Callaghan was diagnosed with melanoma when she was 19 and cites her experience of cancer as motivation to safeguard the NHS, saying, "It can never be jeopardised."[8] She has been cancer-free since 2014.[7]

In June 2020, Callaghan's office announced that she had suffered a brain haemorrhage and had undergone emergency neurosurgery.[9] She spent four months recovering in the Physically Disabled Rehabilitation Unit at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.[10]

Voluntary activities

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Callaghan volunteered as a member of the Children's Panel for three years.[6][7] Her voluntary activities have also supported the Teenage Cancer Trust, Young Lives Vs Cancer and the James Lind Alliance.[11] She has co-authored research papers aimed at helping young people with cancer.[12]

Political career

[edit]

Callaghan was selected as the Scottish National Party's candidate for the seat of East Dunbartonshire in September 2019.[13] At the December 2019 general election, she won the seat, only narrowly beating the incumbent MP and Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson.[7]

On 7 January 2020, she was appointed as the SNP's spokesperson for pensions and intergenerational affairs.[14] She made her maiden speech in parliament nine days later, during which she spoke about Scottish independence and protecting the NHS from the Tories.[15]

In March 2020, she was selected as a member of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee.[16] She was later discharged from the committee in June 2020 because of her brain haemorrhage and subsequent period of recovery.[17]

During her recovery, Callaghan contributed to parliamentary debates virtually under processes that had been introduced to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.[18] However, following the removal of these processes, in February 2022 she returned to the House of Commons to deliver a speech in person. She described her return as "against doctor's orders".[19]

Callaghan said she was travelling to London to raise the issue of a constituent who had suffered a stroke and was struggling with financial support. In what the Daily Mirror described as a "powerful return to Parliament", she pushed the work and pensions secretary, Thérèse Coffey, to commit to "revisiting the current levels of Universal Credit", claiming that the current level of support left people "barely getting by".[20]

She has spearheaded the campaign for a proxy voting system.[21] In January 2022, she wrote to then Leader of the House, Jacob Rees-Mogg, urging him to bring back proxy voting and virtual participation for those with long-term health conditions; Rees-Mogg subsequently suggested he was against the introduction of digital voting as MPs would not take votes "seriously" if they participated remotely.[22]

On her physical return to the House of Commons in February 2022, Callaghan stepped up her calls for proxy voting during a speech in parliament and in a serious of interviews including with the Daily Record.[19] In March 2022, she raised the issue again in the House of Commons, describing parliamentary procedures as "exclusionary".[23]

On 7 June 2022, Callaghan was forced to withdraw her comment in the House of Commons for using the word "lying" in relation to the prime minister, Boris Johnson. She criticised Johnson for "partying, lying, amending the ministerial code, voter suppression, [and] watering down human rights". The deputy speaker, Nigel Evans, interrupted Callaghan and asked her to withdraw the word "lying", which she agreed to do.[24]

In June 2022, Callaghan's colleague Patrick Grady was found to have committed "unwanted physical touching, with sexual intent" on a junior member of the SNP Westminster Group's staff. Following an investigation by an independent expert panel, Grady was suspended from the House of Commons for two sitting days. The expert group found that Grady's behaviour was a "significant breach" of the UK Parliament's sexual misconduct policy. However, for reasons set out in the report, the expert panel concluded that the suspension from parliament "should be short".[25]

In a leaked recording of an SNP group meeting, Callaghan can be heard telling her fellow MPs, "I think we should be rallying together for this campaign, but also regardless of our position on Patrick's situation, we should be rallying together around him to support him at this time as well. I don't think we are very good as a party at supporting each other and I think we should be making sure that he feels supported at this point, so if we can all reach out to him, or do so if you feel able to, we should probably be doing that."[26] Her comments had been greeted with applause from colleagues, but Callaghan later issued an apology, describing her remarks as "insensitive, poorly worded and misplaced".[27] Then First Minister and SNP party leader, Nicola Sturgeon, subsequently told the Scottish Parliament, "I cannot comment on whether [the leaked recording] is an accurate overall reflection of the discussion, but what I have heard suggests that more concern was shown for the perpetrator of the behaviour than for its victim."[28]

Callaghan launched East Dunbartonshire's first ever hospitality awards in June 2022 following what she described as a "a tough tough two years for the sector".[29]

She chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Children, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer.[30]

Callaghan was promoted to the SNP's frontbench team as Health Spokesperson in September 2023.[31] She also sat on the UK Parliament's Health and Social Care Select Committee.[32]

During the 2024 UK general election, the East Dunbartonshire constituency was abolished, and Callaghan ran for re-election in the newly formed seat of Mid Dunbartonshire. She was unseated by Susan Murray of the Liberal Democrats, losing by a margin of 9,673 votes.[33]

Campaigning and personal life

[edit]

Callaghan campaigned to have VAT removed from sunscreen to reduce rates of melanoma.[34] The campaign is supported by several leading cancer charities.[35]

Callaghan has a small dog called Alfie.[36]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Amy Callaghan (born 1992) is a Scottish politician who served as the for from December 2019 to May 2024. She entered by defeating the Liberal Democrats' leader in the , securing victory by a narrow margin of 149 votes in a constituency noted for its competitive politics. During her tenure, Callaghan held positions as the SNP spokesperson for pensions and intergenerational affairs and later for , while chairing the on Children, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer. Callaghan's public profile includes advocacy for cancer prevention and treatment, informed by her diagnosis with at age 19, which she attributes to inadequate sun protection awareness, and a subsequent in 2020 caused by a congenital requiring and rehabilitation. She lost her seat in the 2024 general election under revised boundaries as the candidate for Mid Dunbartonshire.

Early Life and Background

Family and Upbringing

Amy Callaghan was born on 21 May 1992 and raised in , , in a working-class . Her father, Roy, initially worked as a on the Clyde before founding his own business, while her mother, Sandra, was employed in the health service. She has two brothers, Ben and Joe. Callaghan's upbringing emphasized family support amid early health concerns; her mother routinely applied to her during school playground time to protect against sun exposure, reflecting proactive parental vigilance. Her parents accompanied her to medical appointments and provided emotional backing following her diagnosis at age 19, with her mother urging her to prioritize recovery during hospital stays.

Education

Callaghan attended primary and secondary schools in , , where she grew up. She subsequently enrolled at the in to study . At the university, Callaghan completed a BA in , achieving a 2:1 classification, with her dissertation examining the use of in political campaigning. Her studies were interrupted in her second year, at age 19, following a cancer that required treatment including , though she ultimately graduated.

Health Challenges

Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

In 2011, at the age of 19, Amy Callaghan was diagnosed with after noticing a lump inside her left cheek. She underwent to remove the lump, which confirmed the diagnosis of this rare form of . The cancer relapsed in January 2014, when Callaghan, then aged 21, detected a small lump in her cheek, leading to prompt surgical intervention that confirmed the recurrence. Further treatment involved multiple procedures, including excisions addressing both external facial lesions and intra-oral growths, supported by organizations such as the . Following these surgeries, she was declared cancer-free in March 2014. Callaghan has since maintained regular monitoring and advocated for preventive measures like access, citing her experience as motivation to protect services.

Stroke and Recovery

In June 2020, Amy Callaghan, then aged 28, suffered a haemorrhagic stroke, collapsing at her home and requiring emergency hospitalization. She underwent two life-saving surgeries, including emergency brain surgery with a drain inserted to manage the haemorrhage, and spent four months in hospital. The stroke resulted in full paralysis on one side of her body, weakness in her left arm, and initial speech difficulties. Medical teams recommended acute rehabilitation following stabilization, focusing on regaining mobility and function. Callaghan returned to the House of Commons in March 2021, marking initial progress in her recovery, though she continued to face physical limitations, including reliance on a for walking. By February 2022, she resumed parliamentary duties due to the absence of provisions, highlighting ongoing challenges in balancing recovery with professional demands. Her rehabilitation involved innovative approaches, such as technology-enriched programs at the , aimed at improving motor recovery for stroke survivors. In subsequent years, Callaghan advocated for enhanced support for stroke patients, drawing on her experience to push for NHS reforms in rehabilitation access and premature circulatory disease prevention.

Pre-Political Involvement

Professional Experience

Prior to her election to the UK Parliament in December 2019, Amy Callaghan held roles in the Scottish Parliament's administrative support for SNP elected officials. In 2015, she began working for the (SNP) as a , handling constituent inquiries and support tasks. Following the May , Callaghan served as office manager to Rona Mackay, the SNP MSP for Strathkelvin and , until the 2019 general election. In this position, she managed office operations, processed casework, and conducted research to assist Mackay's legislative and constituency duties. Her responsibilities included coordinating responses to public concerns, administrative oversight, and policy-related support within the SNP's Holyrood framework. Earlier in her career, Callaghan gained experience in service-oriented sectors such as retail and , though specific employers and durations remain undocumented in primary sources. These roles preceded her entry into political administration and provided foundational skills in customer interaction and operational management.

Voluntary and Activist Work

Callaghan served as a volunteer member of the Children's Panel in for three years, participating in hearings to determine compulsory measures of supervision for children and young people deemed in need of care, protection, or at risk of offending. This role involved assessing cases involving vulnerable youth and contributing to decisions on their welfare and rehabilitation pathways. She also volunteered with the , undertaking fundraising activities such as bucket collections at concerts, shops, and events, as well as supporting educational outreach talks on cancer awareness for young people. These efforts aligned with her personal experience surviving as a teenager, though formal activism on issues intensified during her parliamentary tenure.

Political Career

2019 General Election Victory

In the , called by Prime Minister on 6 November and held on 12 December, Amy Callaghan contested as the (SNP) candidate against incumbent Liberal Democrat leader , who had regained the seat in 2017 after losing it to the SNP in 2015. The constituency, encompassing affluent suburbs north of , had become a bellwether for and sentiments, with the SNP emphasizing opposition to a no-deal and renewed calls for a second referendum, while Swinson's Liberal Democrats campaigned on revoking Article 50 to prevent . Callaghan, a 27-year-old first-time parliamentary candidate with prior experience in SNP youth activism and voluntary work, focused her platform on local issues including health services and education alongside national priorities like Scottish . Polling indicated a tight race, but results declared early on 13 December showed Callaghan securing victory by a razor-thin margin of 149 votes, representing a 0.3% swing to the SNP. She polled 19,672 votes (33.8% share), narrowly ahead of Swinson's 19,523 votes (33.5%), with the Conservatives on 9,538 (16.4%) and Labour on 8,893 (15.3%); turnout reached 80.3% among an electorate of 66,075. This upset contributed to the SNP's overall gain of 13 seats in , bolstering their position amid broader Conservative advances elsewhere in the UK. Swinson's defeat prompted her immediate resignation as Liberal Democrat leader, highlighting vulnerabilities in pro-Remain unionist strongholds. Callaghan's win marked her entry to Parliament as one of the youngest SNP MPs, reflecting the party's mobilization of pro-independence voters in response to Westminster's handling of Brexit and the 2014 referendum's aftermath, though the narrow margin underscored the constituency's volatility. Official results confirmed the SNP gain from the Liberal Democrats, with no recounts altering the outcome.

Parliamentary Tenure (2019–2024)

Amy Callaghan served as the for from 12 December 2019 until the on 30 May 2024. During this period, she held shadow spokesperson roles for the SNP, initially covering pensions and inter-generational fairness from 7 January 2020 to 12 December 2022, before shifting to from 4 September 2023 until the end of her term. Her parliamentary work emphasized constituency casework, attendance at local events, and media engagement on devolved issues like and public services. Callaghan's participation was significantly affected by personal health challenges, including a brain haemorrhage in June 2020 that required four months of hospitalization and two surgeries. She continued contributing to debates virtually under temporary accommodations introduced in 2020, which allowed remote participation. Upon returning in person on 7 2022——she advocated for permanent reforms to Westminster's voting procedures, including expanded for MPs with long-term illnesses, citing the system's "antiquated" barriers to ill-health representation. This push aligned with broader SNP criticisms of procedural inflexibility, though implementation remained limited to specific cases. In health policy, Callaghan focused on and treatment access, drawing from her prior diagnosis. She launched the VAT Burn campaign on 4 February 2023, coinciding with , to eliminate the 20% VAT on products, arguing it deterred preventive use and contributed to rising rates, potentially saving the NHS over £128 million annually in treatment costs. The campaign gained cross-party support from charities like Melanoma Focus and led to her introduction of the Sun Protection Products () Bill on 21 February 2023, which sought zero-rating for qualifying sunscreens but did not advance beyond first reading. She also secured a debate on 9 February 2023, pressing for fiscal incentives to boost sun protection amid evidence that VAT exemptions on similar preventive items existed elsewhere. In her shadow health role, she questioned government strategies on psychological support for young people with major conditions and critiqued delays in NHS rehabilitation services for survivors. Callaghan's voting record showed strong alignment with SNP positions on welfare, , and opposition to UK-wide policies like minimum service levels during strikes.

2024 General Election Defeat

In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, held on 4 July, Amy Callaghan sought re-election as the (SNP) candidate for the newly constituted Mid Dunbartonshire parliamentary constituency, which absorbed the bulk of her previous seat following the 2023 boundary review by the Boundary Commission for . The redrawn seat encompassed areas including , , , , and , rendering it notionally competitive between the SNP and Liberal Democrats based on prior voting patterns. Callaghan's campaign emphasized continuity from her 2019 victory, focusing on local issues such as health services and independence, amid a national backdrop of SNP challenges including financial scrutiny and internal divisions. Results were declared at 04:10 BST on 5 by Ann Davie, with a turnout of 71.8% from an electorate of 73,603. Callaghan secured 12,676 votes, representing 24.0% of the valid vote—a decline of 13.9 points from the notional 2019 SNP share in the redrawn constituency. She finished second to Liberal Democrat Susan Murray, who won with 22,349 votes (42.4%), establishing a of 9,673. Labour's Dougall placed third with 10,993 votes (20.8%), while the Conservatives garnered just 2,452 (4.6%), reflecting their diminished presence in Scottish urban and suburban seats.
CandidatePartyVotesShare
Susan Murray22,34942.4%
Amy Callaghan12,67624.0%
Lorna DougallScottish Labour Party10,99320.8%
Alix MathiesonScottish Conservative Party2,4524.6%
The loss marked the end of Callaghan's parliamentary tenure and aligned with the SNP's national , as the party plummeted from 48 seats in 2019 to nine, attributable in analyses to voter fatigue over shortcomings, the ongoing police probe into party finances, and Humza Yousaf's resignation earlier in 2024. Mid Dunbartonshire's outcome echoed historical Liberal Democrat strength in the region, previously held by before her narrow 2019 defeat to Callaghan.

Controversies and Criticisms

Support for Patrick Grady Amid SNP Harassment Scandal

In June 2022, , the SNP's former , faced suspension from the party after an independent parliamentary panel upheld a complaint of against him for making an unwanted physical advance toward a younger male staff member in 2018, involving touching and stroking the complainant's leg during a conversation about career advice. The panel recommended a two-day suspension from the , which Grady served, while apologizing publicly for his actions; however, the SNP leadership removed his whip for six months, citing the need for further internal processes. Amid this, leaked audio from a private SNP Westminster group meeting captured Amy Callaghan urging fellow MPs to "rally round" and support Grady, emphasizing solidarity within the party despite the upheld complaint. This stance drew criticism for appearing to prioritize party loyalty over the complainant, with the victim publicly expressing frustration at the lack of support from SNP MPs and describing the party's response as inadequate. SNP leader condemned the leaked comments as "utterly unacceptable," highlighting tensions in the party's handling of such cases. Callaghan subsequently issued a public apology on 20 June 2022 via social media, acknowledging her remarks as "insensitive" and expressing regret for any hurt caused, particularly to survivors of harassment, while committing to improvements in the party's support structures for complainants. She stated that the SNP had "clearly fallen short" in addressing sexual harassment complaints and called for an external review, which SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford announced the following day. Grady's whip was restored by the SNP in December 2022 after completing his suspension, though he lost his parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election.

Broader SNP Internal Issues and Party Culture

The (SNP) has encountered persistent internal divisions, particularly between factions aligned with former leaders and , leading to purges of dissenting voices and heightened infighting that undermined party cohesion. These tensions manifested in the 2021 sacking of MP Joanna Cherry from the frontbench, attributed by allies to leadership paranoia against perceived threats, exacerbating splits over independence strategy and gender policy. Cherry later described a "culture of hate" within the party, citing rule changes aimed at blocking her reselection and broader suppression of internal debate. Financial scandals have further eroded trust, with —a police probe into undeclared donations—resulting in arrests including Sturgeon on 5 April 2023, her husband on 18 April 2023, and former treasurer on 22 April 2023, all released without charge pending further inquiry. Insiders have portrayed the party's governance as chaotic, with a reliance on Sturgeon's personal authority fostering a personality cult that sidelined scrutiny of finances and policy delivery. This opacity contributed to electoral setbacks, as voters cited scandals, policy failures, and internal discord in the 2024 UK general election, where the SNP lost 39 seats. On complaints handling, the SNP commissioned an independent review in June 2022 after admitting it "fell short" in addressing allegations, amid multiple cases including that of former Patrick , suspended in 2021 for inappropriate conduct toward staff. Critics argue this reflects a broader party culture prioritizing collective defense and advocacy over individual accountability, with leaked discussions among MPs urging support for accused members despite evidence. Such patterns, combined with strategic depoliticization on core issues like to maintain governing stability, have been linked to voter fatigue and the party's shift from insurgency to entrenched administration.

Post-Parliament Activities

Advocacy for Health Reform

Following her defeat in the 2024 general election, Amy Callaghan joined Chest Heart & (CHSS) as a policy and politics advisor in 2025, leveraging her experience as a survivor to advocate for reforms in Scotland's NHS care for chest, heart, and stroke conditions. Having suffered a haemorrhagic in February 2020 at age 27 shortly after her election as MP, Callaghan credits CHSS's rehabilitation programs with aiding her recovery, which included regaining through targeted therapies. In this role, she focuses on translating survivor experiences into policy priorities, emphasizing evidence-based interventions over speculative reforms. Callaghan's primary campaigns target systemic gaps in acute and post-acute care, including the long-delayed rollout of a 24/7 service for patients, first promised by the in 2017 but still incomplete as of 2025, with each specialized angio-suite estimated to cost £1-2 million to establish. She advocates for a statutory "rehabilitation guarantee" ensuring all survivors receive consistent, timely access to rehab services, arguing that such measures not only improve outcomes but also yield long-term cost savings for systems by preventing complications and reducing readmissions. "Rehabilitation is what saves lives and could save the state so much money," Callaghan stated, drawing from data on rehabilitation's role in restoring function and independence. Additional priorities include enhanced carer support, equitable funding for (COPD) treatments, and addressing poverty as a causal driver of cardiovascular risks through preventive policies. In October 2025, Callaghan collaborated with MSP on CHSS initiatives, including events promoting heart health awareness, early prevention strategies, and family support systems, where she publicly endorsed the rehab guarantee via campaign banners and discussions. Her work extends to partnerships, such as CHSS's July 2025 collaboration with Different Strokes to aid young survivors, where she shared her recovery journey to highlight the need for age-appropriate rehab access. These efforts position her advocacy as grounded in personal and from survivor networks, rather than top-down mandates, aiming to influence upcoming manifestos and budgets.

Policy and Consulting Roles

Following her defeat in the 2024 and departure from on 30 May 2024, Amy Callaghan assumed the position of Strategic Political Advisor at Chest Heart & Stroke (CHSS), a charity focused on supporting individuals affected by chest, heart, and conditions, commencing in March 2025. In this capacity, she leverages her parliamentary experience and personal history as a young survivor—having suffered a haemorrhage in June 2020—to advocate for systemic reforms in 's (NHS), emphasizing improved prevention, treatment access, and support for chronic conditions. Callaghan's advisory work includes public advocacy for policy changes, such as enhanced resources for stroke rehabilitation and partnerships with organizations like Different Strokes to address gaps in support for younger patients. She delivered the keynote address at a CHSS event for young stroke survivors in Glasgow in September 2025, highlighting the need for tailored NHS interventions based on her own recovery challenges, including multiple surgeries and prolonged rehabilitation. This role marks her first public-facing professional engagement since leaving Westminster, transitioning from elected policymaking to targeted charitable advisory influence amid ongoing NHS pressures, including waiting lists exceeding 800,000 in Scotland as of mid-2025. No additional consulting or policy advisory positions have been publicly documented as of October 2025, though Callaghan has referenced broader interests in consulting and in post-parliamentary discussions. Her CHSS tenure aligns with her prior parliamentary focus on , where she served as the SNP's Westminster health spokesperson and campaigned on issues like VAT relief for products to prevent .

Personal Life and Views

Relationships and Interests

Callaghan announced her engagement to Sean McLaughlan, an office manager at the , on 17 August 2021, sharing a photograph of their hands with her on . McLaughlan discovered her collapsed at home on 10 June 2020 following a haemorrhage that required emergency . No public records indicate a subsequent as of 2025. Callaghan is the owner of a Maltese terrier named Alfie, whom she has described as a key companion during her recovery from health challenges. Her personal interests include advocacy for sun protection factor (SPF) use, stemming from her experience as a survivor diagnosed at age 19.

Political Ideology and Independence Stance

Amy Callaghan's political ideology aligns with the Scottish National Party's (SNP) center-left platform, emphasizing , robust public health protections, and reductions in inequality. Her commitment to these principles stems from personal experiences, including treatment for as a teenager, which highlighted disparities in support for families facing serious illness, such as inadequate benefits preventing parental presence during medical care. She has advocated for policies like exempting from value-added tax (VAT) due to its preventive health benefits against , reflecting a pragmatic focus on evidence-based welfare enhancements. Callaghan's engagement with politics was sparked by the , after which she joined the SNP upon graduating from the . Throughout her parliamentary tenure, she maintained party discipline, voting in line with the SNP majority in all 556 divisions recorded. Her consistently critiques Westminster's Conservative-led governance for exacerbating and , positioning progressive reforms as achievable through devolved or independent mechanisms rather than unionist constraints. On , Callaghan has been a firm proponent, viewing it as essential for shielding from Tory economic policies and enabling tailored solutions to domestic challenges. In a 2 2022 Commons debate on independence and the Scottish economy, she asserted that an independent would deliver voter preferences without perpetual Conservative interference, ensuring no child attends school hungry and eliminating reliance on food banks—issues she attributed directly to Westminster mismanagement. She has linked independence to broader equity goals, such as enhanced family support during health crises, arguing it would allow to prioritize citizen welfare over reserved UK-wide fiscal constraints. This stance remained unwavering, mirroring the SNP's manifesto priorities of , EU reintegration, and poverty eradication during her 2024 campaign.

References

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