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David Cairns MP

David Cairns, 1966-2011, MP (Lab, Inverclyde) – Former Minister of State for Scotland

The late David Cairns became a Labour MP for Inverclyde in 2001 after parliament reversed a law that prevented former Catholic priests from taking up a seat in the House of Commons. In the early 1990s he served as a Catholic priest for three years at churches in Scotland and London. He left the priesthood to become a director of the Christian Socialist Movement.

Once an MP, he was member of the joint committee on the consolidation of bills, then parliamentary aide to Malcolm Wicks, the work and pensions minister. He was appointed as a parliamentary undersecretary of state in the Scotland Office in 2006. Northern Ireland was briefly added to his responsibilities before he was promoted to minister of state in the Scotland Office in 2007. He resigned his post in September 2008.

David died in May 2011. Former prime minister Tony Blair, who first appointed Mr Cairns as a minister, said of his passing: "David's life was dedicated to public service. He was a committed and conscientious constituency MP, an excellent government minister and a passionate campaigner for social justice, equality and opportunity. But more than that, David was, quite simply, a good man, with time for everyone and a wonderful sense of humour, which made him a delight to be around."

 
 
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Taking Charge of Your Career  17 May 2012

  • Strategic career planning is an essential skill for motivated individuals. Career progression in the public sector is increasingly challenging, but for those with a clear strategic direction, there are still opportunities to progress, advance and develop. Applying your skills and proactively overcoming personal limiting assumptions can give enormous benefits to the individual and the organisation. Read More

Understanding FOI Requests 23 May 2012

  • By the end of the day, delegates will understand the context, the current procedure and the emerging trends surrounding the process. Exemptions and vexatious requests will be dealt with, and delegates will leave feeling confident in their ability to respond to FOI requests correctly and efficiently. Read More

A Guide to Becoming a Mutual  20 June 2012

  • Throughout the day, delegates will develop the idea of a mutual as an alternative to ‘business as usual’ and will leave with a complete overview of the mutual model, how to implement it and how to support it in the future.. Read More 

Understanding Public Sector Finance 26 June 2012

  • Led by the Institute of Fiscal Studies, this one-day training day will aim to provide a comprehensive education in the nature of finance in the public sector. Read More

Effective Verbal Communication 10 July 2012

  • Join communications consultant Sandra Miller on this one-day course to maximise your verbal ability. Sandra has over 15 years' experience as a communication skills consultant, trainer and coach, working with bodies like Greenwich PCT and Bexley Council and the BBC, as well as leading private firms Deloitte and JP Morgan. Read More