Patricia Gibson Explained

Patricia Gibson (born 12 May 1968) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician serving as SNP Attorney General Spokesperson since September 2023.^{[1] [2]} She served as the SNP Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government since 2021 to 2022. She was the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Ayrshire and Arran 2015–2024.^[3]

Early life and career

Patricia Gibson was born and educated in Glasgow. She received a BA (Hons) and MA (Hons) in English and Politics from the University of Glasgow. After graduation, she taught English for over twenty years.^{[4] [5]}

Political career

In 2007, Gibson was elected to the Glasgow City Council as a councillor for the Greater Pollok ward,^[6] on which she served until 2012. While on the council, she was the SNP's spokesperson for education on the Glasgow city council.

At the 2010 general election, Gibson stood as the SNP candidate in North Ayrshire and Arran, coming second with 25.9% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Katy Clark.^[7]

Parliamentary career

At the 2015 election, Gibson was elected to Parliament as MP for North Ayrshire and Arran with 53.2% of the vote and a majority of 13,573.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

Between July 2015 and May 2017 Gibson was a member of the Procedure Committee.

Gibson was re-elected as MP for North Ayrshire & Arran at the snap 2017 general election with a decreased vote share of 38.9% and a decreased majority of 3,633.^{[12] [13]}

In June 2017 she was appointed the SNP spokesperson for Consumer Affairs. Between September 2017 and 6 November 2019, Gibson was a member of the Backbench Business Committee.

At the 2019 general election, Gibson was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 48.5% and an increased majority of 8,521.^{[14] [15] [16]}

Since March 2020, she has been a member of the Backbench Business Committee.

During her time as an MP, Gibson was an active campaigner on behalf of Women Against State Pension Inequality. She was later presented with a WASPI Hero Award by the Ayrshire WASPI group. ^[17]

On 16 April 2022, The Times reported that a complaint of sexual harassment against Gibson had been "provisionally upheld" by Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).^[18] On 23 June 2022, the report on the complaint from Parliament's Independent Expert Panel was published. The report cleared Gibson^[19], concluding that the original investigation "was materially flawed in a way that affected the decision of the Commissioner." The report noted that persistent breaches of confidentiality during the investigation caused "significant harm.... including the respondent being subjected to significant online abuse and harassment, including sexual threats, as well as derogatory graffiti at her place of work whichnecessitated an increase in personal security." ^[20]

In July 2023, Gibson was re-selected to stand as the SNP's candidate in North Ayrshire and Arran at the 2024 general election.^[21]

Personal life

Gibson lives in Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire which is within her parliamentary constituency.

She is married to Kenneth Gibson, a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

External links

• SNP profile

Notes and References

1. Web site: SNP . the . 2022-12-10 . The real opposition: meet your new SNP Westminster Frontbench . 2022-12-11 . Scottish National Party . en-US.
2. News: 2023-09-04 . SNP announces frontbench reshuffle at Westminster . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-09-10.
3. Web site: Parliamentary career for Patricia Gibson - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament. 2020-09-12. members.parliament.uk. en.
4. Web site: 2018-09-04. Patricia Gibson. 2020-09-12. Scottish National Party. en-US.
5. Web site: About. 2020-09-12. patriciagibson. en.
6. Web site: Local and European Election Results 2007. 43.
7. Web site: BBC News Election 2010 Constituency Ayrshire North & Arran. 2020-09-12. news.bbc.co.uk.
8. Web site: North Ayrshire and Arran (Constituency) 2015 results - General election results - UK Parliament. 2020-09-12. electionresults.parliament.uk. en.
9. Web site: Election Data 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt . 17 October 2015 . 17 October 2015 . Electoral Calculus.
10. http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/news/UKParliamentaryElectionsNorthAyrshireandArran.aspx 18Aug15
11. Web site: UK Election Results: Ayrshire North & Arran 2015 .
12. Web site: North Ayrshire and Arran (Constituency) 2017 results - General election results - UK Parliament. 2020-09-12. electionresults.parliament.uk. en.
13. News: Ayrshire North & Arran parliamentary constituency - Election 2017 - BBC News . 11 June 2017 . BBC News.
14. Web site: North Ayrshire and Arran (Constituency) 2019 results - General election results - UK Parliament. 2020-09-12. electionresults.parliament.uk. en.
15. Web site: Forthcoming ElectionsMinimize . 15 November 2019 . North Ayrshire Council .
16. News: Ayrshire North & Arran parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 . 2019-12-14 . en-GB.
17. Web site: 8 June 2023 . MP Patricia Gibson receives award from Ayrshire WASPI Group . live.
18. News: Boothman . John . 2022-04-16 . Sexual harassment complaints against SNP MPs are upheld . subscription . 2022-05-01 . . 0140-0460.
19. https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2022/june/independent-expert-panel-upholds-appeal-by-patricia-gibson-mp-against-sexual-misconduct-complaint/{{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
20. Web site: 23 June 2022 . The Conduct of Ms Patricia Gibson MP . live . UK Parliament.
21. Web site: 19 July 2023 . Patricia Gibson: North Ayrshire and Arran MP to stand for re-election . 15 April 2024 . Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald . en.