Monica Lennon has been named as the new Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport following Richard Leonard’s shadow cabinet reshuffle.
Monica Lennon has been appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport
In a reshuffle of his shadow cabinet Richard Leonard has appointed Monica Lennon, a member and former chair of this CLP, as shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.
Monica, who lives in the constituency, was local councillor for the Hamilton North and East ward of South Lanarkshire council before she was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016 to represent the Central Scotland region.
Since entering parliament, Monica has campaigned tirelessly in support of her private members bill to end Period Poverty and more recently she has steered a number of crucial amendments through the committee stage of the SNP Planning Bill, making good use of her previous experience as a chartered town planner.
Monica Lennon at the Ending Period Poverty consultation launch
She has also spoken out against the stigma of drug and alcohol abuse and is an advocate for better mental health provision, particularly for young people.
A successful campaign to keep the University of the West of Scotland in the constituency and ongoing battles against the building of an incinerator in Whitehill and the closure of McWhirter House care home in Larkhall all reinforce Monica’s local campaigning credentials.
Monica Lennon, Ged Killen and Eva Murray campaigning to keep UWS in Hamilton
In December 2017 Monica was appointed Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security And Equalities in Richard Leonard’s first shadow cabinet.
In July of this year Monica was named “New MSP of the Year” at the Holyrood Awards and in November 2017 she was named “One to Watch” at The Herald’s Scottish Politician of the Year Awards.
Alex Rowley is back into the shadow Cabinet as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government and Pauline McNeil will pick up the Equalities, Housing and Social Security portfolio.
Neil Findlay becomes the Business Manager and Rhoda Grant, who previously held the role, takes on the Rural Economy role.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard will also lead on the economy.
Richard Leonard has taken on the economy brief himself and said: “This new shadow cabinet is a blend of skills and experience whose aim is to turn around Scottish Labour’s electoral successes.”
The full shadow cabinet is:
- Richard Leonard, Leader,also leading on the economy brief
- Lesley Laird, Deputy Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
- Claire Baker, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs
- Claudia Beamish, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform
- Neil Findlay, Business Manager, Party Liaison, Constitutional Relations
- Rhoda Grant, Shadow Cabinet secretary for Rural Economy
- Iain Gray, Shadow Cabinet secretary for Education and Skills
- Daniel Johnson, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice
- James Kelly, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance
- Monica Lennon, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport
- Pauline McNeil, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Equalities, Housing and Social Security
- Alex Rowley, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government
- Elaine Smith, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Eradication of Poverty and Inequality
- Colin Smyth, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Connectivity and Transport
