Jim Devine
| Jim Devine | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Livingston |
|
|
In office 29 September 2005 – 12 April 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Robin Cook |
| Succeeded by | Graeme Morrice |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
21 May 1953 Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Liz (divorced) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Blackburn, West Lothian |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
James Devine (born 21 May 1953) is a former British Member of Parliament. He was the Labour Party member for Livingston from 2005 until 2010 and Chairman of the Scottish Labour Party between 1994–95.
On 16 June 2009, following the 2009 expenses scandal, he was barred by the Labour Party from being their candidate for the 2010 General Election, after reports he claimed expenses for work on his home from a non-existent firm. He was convicted of false accounting on 10 February 2011 and sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment on 31 March 2011.
Devine was born and brought up in Blackburn, West Lothian and was educated in Bathgate. He served as the election agent for Livingston Constituency Labour Party and the local MP Robin Cook from the 1983 general election until Cook died in 2005. From 1994 to 1995 he was the Chairman of the Scottish Labour Party.
Prior to his election, Devine worked as a full-time trade union official for the Confederation of Health Service Employees (COHSE) and then as Head of Health in the Scottish Region of the public sector union after UNISON was formed in 1993. Before becoming a trade union official Devine was a mental health nurse, having trained and worked at Bangour Village Hospital in Dechmont.
He was selected to follow Cook as Labour candidate in the ensuing 2005 Livingston by-election. He won, defeating his SNP rival though Labour's majority was reduced by more than 10,000. He made his maiden speech on 25 October 2005.
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