Irene Adams
Life peerage | |
---|---|
Member of Parliament for Paisley North | |
In office 9 November 1990 – 11 April 2005 | |
Preceded by | Allen Adams |
Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Katherine Patricia Irene Adams 27 December 1947 |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Labour |
Spouse | |
Katherine Patricia Irene Adams, Baroness Adams of Craigielea (born 27 December 1947) is a Scottish Labour peer who served as the Member of Parliament for Paisley North from 1990 to 2005.
Early life
Adams was educated at
Parliamentary career
Her husband, Allen Adams, had been MP for Paisley North until his death on 5 September 1990 at the age of 44 from a brain haemorrhage.[5] Irene, who had served as his secretary during his time as MP, stood in the subsequent by-election and despite a swing to the SNP, went on to win with 44% of the vote.[6] She successfully defended the seat in the next three General Elections.
As an MP, she had been outspoken on the issue of drug abuse and gang violence and received death threats.
Adams was persuaded to stand down with the promise of a peerage, in order to allow sitting West Renfrewshire MP
Peerage and expenses
Despite no longer being a member of the House of Commons, Adams along with 13 other MPs was the subject of a court case over the release of information into parliamentary expenses.[13] As a result of the widespread expenses scandal within parliament, she was ultimately asked pay over £50,000 which she initially refused to do.[14]
Adams is not noted for being an active member of the House of Lords, and attracted criticism for claiming expenses despite having only made a single contribution, her maiden speech, between May 2005 and October 2010.[15][16] She currently lives in a converted mill in Paisley.[15]
References
- ^ J.M.Bochel; D.T.Denver. Scottish Regional and District Elections 1974 (PDF). Scottish Academic Press. p. 119.
- ^ J.M.Bochel; D.T.Denver. Scottish District Elections 1977 (PDF). University of Dundee. p. 72.
- ^ J.M.Bochel; D.T.Denver. Scottish Regional Elections 1982 (PDF). University of Dundee and University of Lancaster. p. 45.
- ^ J.M.Bochel; D.T.Denver. Scottish Regional Elections 1986 (PDF). University of Dundee and University of Lancaster. p. 30.
- ^ a b "Between jellies and a hard place". Herald Scotland. 13 November 1995.
- ^ "By-election results: 1987-92" (PDF). House of Commons Information Office. p. 14.
- ^ "MP hit by car blaze". BBC News. 7 July 1999.
- ^ "Anger over whisky tax backing". BBC News. 28 April 2004.
- ^ "Irene Adams". BBC News. 17 October 2002.
- ^ "Expelled MP prepares legal battle". BBC News. 10 September 1998.
- ^ "No. 57692". The London Gazette. 4 July 2005. p. 8639.
- ^ "House of Lords; Minutes of Proceedings". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 18 July 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
- ^ Martin Rosenbaum (7 May 2008). "Open Secrets: MPs in court today". BBC News.
- ^ Rosa Prince (15 October 2010). "MPs' expenses: Baroness Adams challenges Commons to sue her". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ a b "Baroness Adams: the peer who claimed £200,000 but has spoken only once". Daily Telegraph. 26 November 2001.
- ^ "Anger at £250,000 expenses claims of 'lazy Labour lords'". sundaypost.com. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
External links
- Profile at the Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Electoral history and profile at The Guardian
- Voting record at PublicWhip.org
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
- Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
- Profile at BBC News Democracy Live