Wikipedia

Kaukab Stewart

Kaukab Stewart (born 1967 or 1968)[2] is a Pakistani-born Scottish politician who has served as Minister for Equalities since May 2024.[3] A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Kelvin since May 2021.

Kaukab Stewart
MSP
Stewart in 2024
Minister for Equalities
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2024
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byEmma Roddick
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
In office
20 February 2024 – 8 May 2024
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Preceded byChristina McKelvie
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Kelvin
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2021
Preceded bySandra White
Majority5,458 (15.1%)
Personal details
Born1967/68 (age 55-56)
Pakistan[1]
Political partyScottish National Party
SpouseRichard Stewart
Children2
ProfessionEducator
Websitekaukabstewart.scot

At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, she became one of the first women of colour elected to the Scottish Parliament, alongside Pam Gosal.[4][5]

Early life and career

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Stewart was born to Pakistani parents in Pakistan[6] and moved with her family to Northampton, England when she was two years old, where she attended Northampton School for Girls. She then moved to Glasgow, Scotland, aged sixteen[7] and attended Bellahouston Academy in Glasgow and Moray House School of Education in Edinburgh.[8]

Prior to her election, she worked as a primary school teacher for nearly 30 years,[9][10] alongside pursuing a political career, which she earlier admitted as challenging even with a "sympathetic headteacher....you have a duty to the kids, who must come first."[11]

She married Richard Stewart[12] on 14 September 1989.[13] They have two children.[8]

Political career

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Stewart joined the Scottish National Party in 1994. "For me it is all about the fact that I was always a supporter of equal rights and self-determination," she explained. "I always wanted control over my own affairs and it was a natural progression to put that into a Scotland context. To be able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it and how you want to do it is very important to me."[7]

She stood unsuccessfully as a SNP candidate in the first Scottish Parliament election since devolution, against Donald Dewar for Glasgow Anniesland at the 1999 Scottish Parliament election.[14][15] Eleven years later, she stood unsuccessfully against former Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling at the 2010 general election.[16][17] Speaking about these experiences in September 2020, Stewart said: "In these elections I knew my chances of being elected were close to zero but it was that dream of a better nation which inspired me to carry on... It's thanks to the hard work of the activists I worked with then that we are where we are today."[18]

On 6 November 2020, Stewart was selected as the SNP candidate in Glasgow Kelvin for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[19] At the election, she was elected as Kelvin's Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) with a majority of 5,458 votes.[20] Her election was noted in the UK press and abroad, such as The Japan Times and Le Parisien.[21][22]

Stewart was appointed in June 2021 as deputy convenor of the Holyrood education committee which scrutinises Scottish education policy and its lead bodies.[23] In the same year she was interviewed for Channel 4 The Political Slot on her party's vision for equality in Scotland.[6]

In January 2023, she was one of a number of Scottish politicians who drew media attention and criticism after being photographed smiling in front of a sign reading 'Decapitate TERFs' and a drawing of a guillotine at a Glasgow rally.[24] She subsequently claimed that she had not seen the sign in question and commented that "Violent hate speech is totally unacceptable and has absolutely no place in our public discourse."[25] This explanation met with some ridicule, including from the author J.K. Rowling, who commented, "I too beam with delight when having my photograph taken with things of which I am entirely unaware".[26] The sign was reported to Police Scotland.[27] Fellow MSP Murdo Fraser described the sign as "clearly a hate crime and a public order offence".[28]

Stewart was appointed Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development in the first Yousaf government following a reshuffle in February 2024.[29][30] She was later appointed Minister for Equalities in the Swinney government.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Women Leading the Way in Politics with Kaukab Stewart MSP". The Fawcett Society.
  2. ^ Williams, Craig (22 March 2021). "The women who hope to break the mould of Scottish politics". BBC Scotland. Retrieved 29 August 2021. The 53-year-old teacher is standing for the SNP in Glasgow Kelvin.
  3. ^ "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Scottish election 2021: First women of colour elected to Holyrood". BBC News. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. ^ Bradley, Jane (9 May 2021). "'It has taken too long but to all women and girls of colour out there - the Scottish Parliament belongs to you too'". The Scotsman. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b The SNP [@theSNP] (29 July 2021). "@KaukabStewart was the first woman of colour to be elected to the Scottish Parliament, in May's election.
    With the full powers of independence, we can build a fairer, more equal Scotland - and maximise our potential.
    Watch the SNP's Political Slot with @Channel4"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ a b Stewart, Graeme (7 December 1998). "Eastern Promise; The Nats select an Asian-born woman to fight Dewar for seat". Daily Mirror. London, England. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b "VOTE 2001 CANDIDATES". BBC News. 2001. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  9. ^ Hunter, Catherine (21 April 2021). "Meet the candidates for Glasgow Kelvin". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  10. ^ Buaras, Elham Assad (27 November 2020). "Holyrood set to welcome first Muslim/ BAME woman MSP". The Muslim News. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. ^ Hepburn, Henry (8 May 2021). "Teacher is first woman of colour elected as MSP". Tes. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  12. ^ Cumming, John [@johncummingSNP] (14 September 2020). "Happy anniversary to yourself and Richard! Enjoy the rest of your day!" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Stewart, Kaukab [@kaukabstewart] (14 September 2020). "On a personal note...its my 31st wedding anniversary today, bless my class who didn't think I looked old enough to be married that long!" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 July 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Dewar faces everything he is not". The Herald. 25 September 1998. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  15. ^ Ritchie, Murray (2000). Scotland reclaimed: the inside story of Scotland's first democratic parliamentary election. Saltire Society. Edinburgh: Saltire Society. p. 223. ISBN 0-85411-077-1. OCLC 44603592.
  16. ^ "Electoral Calculus ElectData 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  17. ^ Davidson, Peter (4 May 2021). "The friendly battle for Glasgow Kelvin and to secure a Holyrood first". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  18. ^ Nutt, Kathleen (2 September 2020). "SNP activist who took on Donald Dewar enters Holyrood 2021 race". The National.
  19. ^ Stewart, Kaukab [@kaukabstewart] (6 November 2020). "I'm truly honoured to have been selected as our @theSNP candidate for Glasgow Kelvin. Thank you to the local members in @SNPKelvin for putting their trust in me.
    Let's move forward together to retain this constituency and win our independence!"     (Tweet). Retrieved 24 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Scotland Election 2021 > Glasgow Kelvin". BBC News. 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  21. ^ Ross, Tim; Reed, Alastair (9 May 2021). "U.K. elections spark debate over Scottish independence push". The Japan Times (subscription required). Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  22. ^ AFP (8 May 2021). "En Ecosse, les indépendantistes remportent les élections et défient Boris Johnson" [In Scotland, separatists win elections and challenge Boris Johnson]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  23. ^ Nutt, Kathleen (24 June 2021). "Tory MSP who removed Gaelic from Holyrood logo appointed education convener". The National. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  24. ^ Sanderson, Daniel (22 January 2023). "'Decapitate Terfs' signs at pro-trans rally attended by SNP politicians". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  25. ^ Herald Scotland Online (22 January 2023). "Police probe 'decapitate terfs' sign at trans rally". The Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  26. ^ Herald Scotland Online (22 January 2023). "Police probe 'decapitate terfs' sign at trans rally". The Herald. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  27. ^ Mitchell, Jenness (23 January 2023). "Scottish politicians and JK Rowling voice anger over 'decapitate terfs' sign at pro-trans rally in Glasgow". Sky News. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  28. ^ Morrison, Hamish (21 January 2023). "Row erupts as SNP MPs appear near violent sign at Glasgow protest". The National. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Meeting of the Parliament, 20 February 2024". parliament.scot. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  30. ^ Meighan, Craig (8 February 2024). "Neil Gray replaces Matheson as health secretary in Yousaf reshuffle". STV News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
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Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Kelvin
2021–present 		Incumbent
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