Paul Monaghan (politician)
Paul Monaghan | |
|---|---|
| File:Paul Monaghan.jpg | |
| Member of Parliament for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |
| Preceded by | John Thurso |
| Majority | 3,844 (11.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 November 1966 Montrose, Scotland |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Spouse | Stephanie Anderson |
| Children | Sian |
| Alma mater | University of Stirling |
Paul William Monaghan (born 1966) is a Scottish National Party politician who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, elected in 2015.
Monaghan was the founder of the Yes Highland campaign which supported a Yes vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.
Early life and education
Monaghan was born in Montrose, before moving to Inverness at the age of two with his family. He was educated at Inverness Royal Academy and at the University of Stirling, where he gained a first class honours degree in Psychology and Sociology and a PhD in Social Policy. He is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management.[1]
Employment
In the mid-nineties, he was employed with his family-run care home, the Balmoral Lodge Eventide Residential Home at Strathpeffer. The care home was deregistered in June 1995.[2] Prior to this several of the twenty members of staff had left or were suspended before then making complaints.[2] The police had investigated a complaint and released a statement that nothing of a criminal nature was revealed.[2]
Monaghan was employed as Head of Planning and Development at Northern Constabulary. In 2008, the force had detained him for a few hours as part of their investigation into an internal email; they suspected Monaghan had been involved with circulating a questionnaire in response to an internal review that was seeking to reduce the divisional areas from eight to three.[3] After six years working for the force, this triggered his resignation.[4]
Management
Monaghan is a board member of UHI North Highland College,[5]
Prior to being elected as MP he was a director of the Highland Homeless Trust.[6]
Political career
Monaghan joined the Scottish National Party in 1994 and has held various roles within their Wester Ross branch.
He was elected to the House of Commons in 2015, polling 15,831 individual votes or 46.3% of the cast vote, defeating the long-term incumbent Liberal Democrat John Thurso by 3,844 votes.[7]
Since his election, Monaghan supported two campaigns being championed by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS).[8]
In April 2016, Monaghan highlighted the lack of transparency afforded by the UK government around plans to transport dangerous nuclear materials that could be used for nuclear weapons, from Scotland to the United States.[9]
Supporting Civil Nuclear Constabulary Officers
Monaghan tabled a Parliamentary Early Day Motion criticising the Government's failure to confirm whether the retirement age of Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers will be brought into line with that of other forces.[10] He stated in his motion that the UK Government had so far failed to act to rectify the inequity in retirement age, which is unrealistic and unfair to the officers, and has failed to recognise the potential consequences of reduced operational effectiveness in the context of protecting the public from potential terrorist attack. The Civil Nuclear Police Federation is currently challenging this determination in the High Court and has sought a judicial review to clarify whether the CNC is a police service and therefore if the standard retirement age should apply. The motion was tabled for 9 May, having received the support of 20 MPs.[11][12]
Controversies involving comments made on Twitter
After Monaghan was elected as a MP in 2015, the press seized upon several comments that he had previously posted on Twitter.
Offensive language
Prior to being elected as an MP, Monaghan previously Tweeted comments relating to the British flag and the Royal family. One tweets read: "The union flag, often accurated called the butcher's apron, has never been a national flag".[13] Another offered observations, such as "The..BBC is reporting that the queen's diarrhoea has apparently cleared up and the Empire is safe"[13]"The royal family is an obscenity particularly when spending vast amounts on luxury. Time for a modern democratic republic".[13] He had also referred to the Queen as 'Mrs Saxe-Coburg-Gotha'. The House title that was ditched by King George V and replaced with Windsor during the First World War. He has also questioned the parentage of Prince Harry: 'Harry 'Hewitt' has just been on TV banging on about how great his granny the Queen is! Is he sure?' he asked. Monaghan has described the Royal Family as an 'obscenity', said the Queen is a benefits 'claimant', described Prince Harry as a 'moron', and referred to the Duchess of Cambridge as 'Mrs Kate Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, unemployed of London'. Other tweets in 2013 that Westminster had become "absolutely repugnant – increasingly feels like early days of the Third Reich".[14]
Antisemitic tweet
Monaghan had posted a Tweet in November 2012 relating to Israel's military action in Gaza; the tweet was accusing "the proud Jewish race" of persecuting Palestinians. A similar message was posted a few days later. Jewish Chronicle contacted him in August 2015 about the posts. Monaghan, by then an MP, deleted the tweets and issued an apology.[14]
Personal life
Monaghan lives in Contin, Ross-Shire with his wife and daughter.
As of June 2015, he is one of 125 MPs who employ a member of their family; he employs his brother as a communications manager.[15]
References
- ^ Munro, Ally (8 May 2015). "SNP win Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- ^ a b c "Social workers move in to care home after abuse claims". The Herald. Glasgow. 21 June 1995. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ "Exclusive: Police probe their own policy expert over email". The Daily Record. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- ^ Love, David (22 December 2008). "Adviser to chief constable on e-mail charge". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ "SNP select candidate to fight Easter Ross seat at Westminster". Ross-shire Journal. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Scottish young homeless 'subclass' warning". BBC News. 7 October 2012.
- ^ "Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross Parliamentary constituency". BBC. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Paul Monaghan defends his support for two LACS' campaigns". www.northern-times.co.uk. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ "Cameron urged to tell the truth over Dounreay US nuclear export". The National. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ "CIVIL NUCLEAR CONSTABULARY-RETIREMENT AGE". Parliament UK. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
- ^ "Government is 'inconsistent' over officer retirement age". Police Professional. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- ^ "SNP MP Paul Monaghan says retirement situation is "deeply worrying"". Press and Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "Why won't the SNP discipline Paul Monaghan over offensive tweets? | Coffee House". Coffee House. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ^ a b Dysch, Marcus (2 September 2015). "Scottish MP Paul Monaghan apologises over antisemitic tweet". The Jewish Chronicle.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (29 June 2015). "Keeping it in the family: new MPs continue to hire relatives as staff". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2015.