Biography of Anne Begg MP

Anne Begg was elected Labour MP for Aberdeen South on May 1st 1997.

Anne was born in 1955 in Brechin, Angus with the genetic condition Gauchers Disease. She has used a wheelchair since 1984, the year after she joined the Labour Party and became active in local politics.

After obtaining a degree in History and Politics at Aberdeen University Anne began teaching English and History in 1978 in Kirriemuir. She moved on to become Principal Teacher of English at Arbroath Academy, the post she relinquished (with some reluctance) on her election to Parliament.

Her commitment to education saw her actively involved in the teaching union, the Educational Institute of Scotland. She is now the Secretary of the Parliamentary branch of the EIS. While a teacher she was also an elected member to The General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Regarding her wheelchair as her "liberator", Anne has always believed that disabled people should not be excluded from society. She was a founder member of Angus Access Panel and continues to campaign for civil rights for disabled people. In 1988 Anne was Disabled Scot of the Year. She is Patron of the National Federation of Shopmobility, the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Society and Angus Special Playscheme and President of the Bue Badge Network.

Anne's political interests include social justice, welfare reform and pensions. She made her maiden speech in the House of Commons in a debate on the Referendum Bill for a Scottish Parliament, part of which features in the video “Great Parliamentary Speeches”.

She is a member of the House of Commons Chairmen’s Panel, the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Chair of the All Party Endometriosis Group, Secretary of the BBC Group and an active member of the Oil and Gas Industry Group. Anne is also a fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust having undertaken a placement with the oil company Chevron.

Making a programme covering her first months of Parliamentary life for the BBC’s Video Diary series, broadcast under the title of “The Flying Scotswoman”, is one of Anne’s proudest achievements. In her spare time she enjoys reading, public speaking and going to the cinema and theatre.