The Rt. Hon. Desmond Henry Browne MP (born 22 March 1952), commonly known as Des Browne, is a Scottish Labour Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock and Loudoun and the Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary of State for Scotland in the Cabinet. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as or ) is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and in other Commonwealth Realms, and elsewhere. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 622 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1657 × 1596 pixel, file size: 501 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... Douglas Garven Alexander (born October 26, 1967) is a British politician who is Secretary of State for International Development. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... John Reid PC (born 8 May 1947) is a British politician who is Home Secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Scottish constituency of Airdrie and Shotts in the United Kingdom. ... The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is a junior position in the British Cabinet. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... The Rt Hon. ... Stephen Creswell Timms (born 29 July 1955, Oldham, Lancashire) is a politician in the United Kingdom and is currently Minister of State for Competitiveness at the newly created Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. ... Kilmarnock and Loudoun is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... William McKelvey (born July 1934), was the British Labour MP for Kilmarnock from 1979 to 1983, then for Kilmarnock and Loudoun from 1983 until his retirement in 1997. ... is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kilwinning (Gaelic: Cill Dingeain) is a historic town situated in North Ayrshire, Scotland. ... North Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Tuath, pronounced ) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Alma mater (disambiguation). ... Master of Theology (MTh) Dentistry Nursing Affiliations Russell Group Universitas 21 Website http://www. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Scottish Labour Party founded in 1976. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... This is a list of Members of Parliament at the House of Commons in Westminster representing constituencies in Scotland, arranged by party. ... Kilmarnock and Loudoun is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Early life and education

Browne was born in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, lived in Stevenston for the early part of his life, and was educated at the Catholic St Michael's Academy in Kilwinning and later at the University of Glasgow, where he received a degree in law. Kilwinning (Gaelic: Cill Dingeain) is a historic town situated in North Ayrshire, Scotland. ... North Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir a Tuath, pronounced ) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland. ... Stevenston is a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Master of Theology (MTh) Dentistry Nursing Affiliations Russell Group Universitas 21 Website http://www. ... The Master of Laws is an advanced law degree, commonly abbreviated LL.M. (also LLM or LL.M) from its Latin name, Legum Magister. ... Scots law is a unique legal system with an ancient basis in Roman law. ...

Legal career

He started his legal career in 1974 as an apprentice solicitor with the firm James Campbell & Co. On qualifying in 1976 he became an assistant solicitor with Ross, Harper and Murphy, promoted to solicitor in 1980. He became a partner in McCluskey Browne in 1985 and a council member of the Law Society of Scotland 1988-1992. He was admitted as an advocate in 1993, practising at the Scottish bar until 1997. He worked mainly in child law. Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... A solicitor is a type of lawyer in many common law jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and in a few regions of the United States. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... The Law Society of Scotland is the professional governing body for Scottish solicitors, based in Edinburgh. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another, especially in a legal context. ...

Parliamentary career

Browne contested the parliamentary seat of Argyll and Bute at the 1992 General Election, and finished in a low fourth place behind the sitting Liberal Democrat MP Ray Michie. He was elected to the Faculty of Advocates in 1993. Browne was selected to contest the safe Labour seat of Kilmarnock and Loudoun following the retirement of the sitting MP William McKelvey. Browne won the seat comfortably at the 1997 General Election with a majority of 7,256. He made his maiden speech on June 20, 1997. Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Speaker of the House of Lords Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist... Argyll and Bute is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, is a liberal political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party; the two parties had already been in an alliance for seven years prior to this, since not long... The Right Honourable Janet Ray Michie, Baroness Michie of Gallanach (born 4 February 1934) in Scotland, was a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Argyll and Bute and is now a member of the House of Lords. ... The Faculty of Advocates is the collective term by which what in England are called barristers are known in Scotland. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... William McKelvey (born July 1934), was the British Labour MP for Kilmarnock from 1979 to 1983, then for Kilmarnock and Loudoun from 1983 until his retirement in 1997. ... The UK general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997. ... A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected representative in such bodies as the House of Commons or the United States House of Representatives. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

Browne joined the Northern Ireland Select Committee on his election, and became the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Secretary of State for Scotland Donald Dewar in 1998. After Dewar left the Cabinet in 1999, to seek election as the First Minister of Scotland, Browne remained in post as PPS to the new Secretary of State John Reid. In 2000 he became the PPS to the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office. Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... A Select Committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster System of parliamentary democracy. ... A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is a junior role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament (MP). ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... For the Canadian politician, see Donald Dewar (Canadian politician). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... The First Minister of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ; Scots: ) is, in practice, the political leader of Scotland, as head of Scotlands national devolved government, the Scottish Executive, which was established in 1999 along with the Scottish Parliament. ... John Reid PC (born 8 May 1947) is a British politician who is Home Secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Scottish constituency of Airdrie and Shotts in the United Kingdom. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Minister of State is a title borne by officials in certain countries governed under the parliamentary system. ... The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is an arm of the United Kingdom government, responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. ...

Government Minister

After the 2001 General Election Browne entered Tony Blair's government as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office. He was promoted to Minister of State at the Department of Work and Pensions in 2003, before moving to the Home Office in 2004 as the minister with responsibility for immigration. He joined the Cabinet following the 2005 General Election as the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and became a Member of the Privy Council. He was appointed Secretary of State for Defence in the Cabinet reshuffle on 5 May 2006. He was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in June 2007. He holds this post jointly with the post of Secretary of State for Defence. As Secretary of State for Scotland he represents the interests of Scotland in Cabinet, particularly in those matters reserved to the Government by the Scotland Act. Tony Blair William Hague Charles Kennedy The UK general election, 2001 was held on 7 June 2001 and was dubbed the quiet landslide by the media. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... A Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, in the United Kingdom government structure, is a minister who is junior to a Minister of State who is then junior to a Secretary of State. ... The Department for Work and Pensions is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The modern concept of Small Office and Home Office or SoHo , or Small or Home Office deals with the category of business which can be from 1 to 10 workers. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ... The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is a junior position in the British Cabinet. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Under Tony Blair's premiership, Des Browne was considered a Brownite.^[1] For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ...

In a free parliamentary vote on 20 May 2008, Des Browne voted for cutting the upper limit for abortions from 24 to to 12 weeks, along with two other Catholic cabinet ministers Ruth Kelly and Paul Murphy. ^[2] Ruth Maria Kelly (born 9 May 1968) is a British politician. ... The Right Honourable Paul Peter Murphy (born 25 November 1948) is a British politician for the Labour Party. ...

Personal life

Browne has been married to Maura Taylor since 1983; they have two sons. For the Jimi Hendrix song, see 1983. ...

References

1. ^ The Guardian
2. ^ BBC News: MPs back 24-week abortion limit

External links

• Ministry of Defence official biography
• Speech on Iraq November 2006
• Speech on Afghanistan September 2006
• Speech on the UK's Nuclear Deterrent January 2007
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Des Browne MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Des Browne MP
• Constituency website
• Des Browne and the Oxford Coroner

Offices held