Tom Harris MP (Lab, Glasgow South) – Former Transport Minister
In 1990 Tom was recruited by the Labour Party in Scotland as its first ever full-time press and publicity officer, where he oversaw the party's media strategy in three parliamentary by-elections (Paisley North and South in November 1990 and Kincardine & Deeside a year later), the 1992 general election and the district council elections the same year. During this hectic period, Tom had the privilege of working closely with Donald Dewar, John Smith, Gordon Brown, Robin Cook and various other shadow cabinet members, including the then Shadow Employment Secretary, Tony Blair.
On 7 June 2001, he became Labour MP for Cathcart with a majority of 10,814, a majority of 39.5 per cent over all other parties - slightly up on Labour's 1997 result. Following a redrawing of the boundaries of Westminster constituencies, Tom was selected as Labour's candidate for the new Glasgow South seat, which includes all of the existing Cathcart constituency, plus about a third of the former Govan seat. At the 2005 general election, Tom was re-elected to Parliament with a majority of 10,832 over the Lib Dems. He was subsequently appointed as PPS to Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Health.
In September 2006, Tom was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, with responsibility for rail, light rail and cycling. When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in June 2007, Tom was re-appointed to transport with an expanded remit which included railways and the trunk road network. At the reshuffle in October 2008, however, Tom returned to the back benches.
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