Andy McDonald (politician)

Andrew Joseph McDonald (born 8 March 1958)[1] is a British Labour politician and solicitor serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights since 2020. He previously served as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet from 2016 to 2020. He has been the Member of Parliament (UK) for Middlesbrough in the House of Commons since 2012.

Andy McDonald

MP
McDonald in 2020
Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights
Assumed office
6 April 2020
LeaderSir Keir Starmer
Preceded byRachael Maskell
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
In office
27 June 2016 – 6 April 2020
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byLilian Greenwood
Succeeded byJim McMahon
Shadow Minister of State for Transport
In office
7 January 2016 – 27 June 2016
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byJonathan Reynolds
Succeeded byMatt Rodda
Member of Parliament
for Middlesbrough
Assumed office
29 November 2012
Preceded byStuart Bell
Majority8,390 (24.7%)
Personal details
Born
Andrew Joseph McDonald

(1958-03-08) 8 March 1958
Middlesbrough, England
Political partyLabour
Alma materLeeds Polytechnic
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Andy McDonald was born in Acklam, Middlesbrough, in the North Riding of Yorkshire.[2]

He was educated at a number of local schools, including St. Francis Primary School, St. Edward's Primary School and St. George's Secondary School (which later became Trinity Catholic College, Middlesbrough). He attended St. Mary's Sixth Form College before studying for a law degree at Leeds Polytechnic.

McDonald worked as a lawyer for over a quarter of a century and rose to be Senior Serious Injury Solicitor at the Middlesbrough office of Thompsons Solicitors and to lead the firm's Serious Injury Unit for the Cumbria, Humberside, North East, and Yorkshire areas. He was also the Thompson's Head of Military Claims for members of the British Armed Forces.[3] Whilst working for the firm, McDonald acted as a special adviser to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee for its 2003 report on Armed Forces Pensions and Compensation.[4] He has also served as both Chair and as Secretary of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers' Military Special Interest Group and was a founder member of The Royal British Legion's Solicitors Group.[5]

Early political career

McDonald was active in local politics in Middlesbrough for many years. He served as councillor for Westbourne ward from 1995 to 1999.[6] At the time of his selection as a parliamentary candidate, he was chairman of Middlesbrough Labour Party Local Government Committee.[7]

Labour shortlisted McDonald as a potential candidate for the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in the 2010 United Kingdom general election. However, Tom Blenkinsop was the eventual choice.[2]

Parliamentary career

McDonald became a parliamentarian when he won the Middlesbrough by-election held on 29 November 2012, retaining the seat for Labour following the death of Sir Stuart Bell. McDonald increased the party's share of the vote to 60.5% though his majority was reduced by 500 to 8,211.[8]

Since his election to Parliament, he has campaigned on a number of issues including opposition to the "Bedroom Tax" (part of the Welfare Reform Act 2012) and the privatisation of the East Coast Main Line.

In February 2013, he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Emily Thornberry MP, Shadow Attorney General.

Following the Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet reshuffle in October 2013, he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to Chuka Umunna MP in his role as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

In January 2016, McDonald was appointed to Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Ministry to replace Jonathan Reynolds who resigned as Shadow Minister for Rail in protest after Corbyn sacked Pat McFadden.[9][10]

In June 2016, he was appointed Shadow Transport Secretary as part of the Labour Party's post-Brexit reshuffle.[11]

In April 2020, incoming leader Keir Starmer moved him to Shadow Secretary of State for Employment Rights.

Philanthropy

McDonald was a governor of Abingdon Primary School for fifteen years until 2010 and became a governor of Middlesbrough College in 2012.[5] He has also been chair of two charities in his constituency, the Davison Trust, which works with children with special needs, and the Teesside branch of Headway, which works with people with brain injuries.[2]

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References
  1. "Thompsons Solicitors LLP". Dellam Corporate Information. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  2. "Andy McDonald chosen as Middlesbrough Labour candidate in by-election to replace the late Sir Stuart Bell". Darlington and Stockton Times. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  3. "Andrew McDonald". Thompsons Solicitors. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  4. "House of Commons Defence Committee: Armed Forces Pensions and Compensation :First Report of Session 2003–04 Volume I:Report, together with formal minutes" (PDF). The Stationery Office Limited. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  5. "Governing Body Membership:Mr Andrew McDonald College Governor". Middlesbrough College. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  6. "Black day for jobs; Your Say". Evening Gazette. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  7. "Trade Union solicitor Andy McDonald will stand as Labour candidate in Middlesbrough bi-election". The Northern Echo. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  8. "Middlesbrough by-election: Labour's Andy McDonald wins". BBC News. BBC. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  9. "Jeremy Corbyn finalises shadow cabinet reshuffle".
  10. "Shadow Rail Minister Quits After Reshuffle". Sky News. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  11. "Jeremy Corbyn unveils new top team after resignations". BBC News. 27 June 2016.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Stuart Bell		 Member of Parliament
for Middlesbrough
2012–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Lilian Greenwood		 Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
2016–present		 Incumbent
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