Ian Murray

The final Labour MP representing a Scottish constituency following the party’s electoral retrenchment north of the border, Ian Murray has been MP of Edinburgh South since 2010. After graduating from Edinburgh University with a degree in social policy and law, Murray served as an Edinburgh City councillor from 2003 until entering parliament. Murray was swiftly appointed to the business, innovation and skills select committee and the environmental audit committee. In 2011, he was appointed to the shadow cabinet. A passionate and vocal supporter for remaining in the Union, Murray was rewarded for his commitment by being appointed shadow secretary of state for Scotland. Murray sits in the centre ground of the Labour party, holding progressive views on civil and human rights, and is opposed to military action. He held his shadow cabinet position initially under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership but resigned alongside several shadow ministers in the days after the EU referendum in 2016. Since then, Murray has been vocal in his opposition to the leadership. Murray retained his seat in the 2017 snap general election with an increased majority, although he saw it fall by a third in 2019. Murray is a longtime supporter of Hearts and has previously served as the chair of the Foundation of Hearts.