About Jim

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Parliamentary Expenses and attendance at Parliament

Jim Sheridan is 56 years old. He has lived in Erskine, Renfrewshire for the past 28 years. Prior to entering politics worked as a material handler for Thales Optronics (formerly Bar and Stroud) in Glasgow. He also served as a Trade Union Convener with the Transport and General Workers Union. Jim has been a supporter of the Labour movement all his life.

Having worked with Party activists to reinvigorate the local Constituency Labour Party, Jim was selected to contest the local authority seat of Erskine Central in the 1999 elections. Jim's down to earth approach and local knowledge secured the seat for the Labour Party and the full results are shown below:

Over the next four years Jim worked hard with his Labour colleagues in Renfrewshire Council delivering quality services across all of Renfrewshire.

In 2000, Jim was selected as the Labour Candidate to contest the West Renfrewshire seat in the 2001 General Election and on 7th June was elected to Parliament. Since entering Parliament Jim has quickly found his feet and has been a regular speaker and attendee campaigning on a whole range of issues. The full results of the 2001 election are detailed below:

In advance of the 2005 General Election and following the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 the Boundary Commission for Scotland initiated a review of the Scottish Westminster Parliamentary boundaries. This review resulted in the number of Scottish constituencies being reduced from 72 to 59 and the three Renfrewshire seats, Paisley North, Paisley South and West Renfrewshire were merged to form Paisley and Renfrewshire North and South.

Jim was selected to contest this seat by his Labour Party colleagues and on May 5th 2005 was successfully returned to Parliament with a majority of 11,001. Full details of the 2005 election results are given below.

Jim's decision to enter politics was based on his desire to influence the process of government, his aim being to promote the quality of life for every citizen in Renfrewshire and the United Kingdom.

Jim's interests in politics extends to all levels of government. He has however special interest in employment legislation, foreign affairs, international development and home affairs.

Government Posts

Jim resigned his post as the Parliamentary Private Secretary of the Defence Team on 9th August 2006 in protest of the Government's policy on the Middle East.

All Party-Parliamentary Groups

Jim is a member of a number of All Party-Parliamentary Groups and is the Chair of the Scottish Football Group.

Committees

Jim Sheridan currently sits on the Chairmen's Panel Committee. Jim has previously served on the Information Committee, the Broadcasting Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the International Development Committee.