Helen Wright (politician)
 | This article may contain excessive or inappropriate references to self-published sources. (October 2024) |
Helen Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1943 |
| Occupation | Councillor |
| Known for | politician and campaigner trade union national official |
| Political party | Labour |
| Awards | Lifetime Legend Award in November 2023 |
Helen W. Wright (born 1943) has served as a councillor in Dundee[1] since 1980[2]. In November 2023, Wright won the Lifetime Legend Award[3] in recognition of her work and achievements over many years[4]. She was the only female member of the 25-member ruling Labour administration when she won the Fairmuir seat in 1980[5] and was the first female Lord Provost of Dundee when elected to that post in 1999. Wright was a national trade union official in the 1970s, chair of the UK-wide local government women’s committee for three years to 1992, a sitting magistrate for 18 years[6], justice committee chair, prison visitor, NHS health board member[7], Community Justice Authority Scottish chair, charity worker and holder of senior local government positions and roles[2]. Helen Wright currently holds various positions in Dundee City Council, is a Bailie, a board member of various organisations[8], and carries out regular voluntary and charity work.
Career
[edit]Helen Wright was one of the few female leaders in a major trades union in the 1970s,[citation needed] is a campaigner for women, and has been a local councillor since 1980. She is a director of charitable bodies,[8] and was appointed as a Fellow of the Al-Maktoum Institute in 2006 [9]. She represented the council on the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership from 2018[10] and was previously a member of Dundee Local Health Council in the 1980's and NHS Tayside Board from 2003 - 2009[7]. Since 1980 Wright has served in many of the senior local government positions including convenor of social work and health, convener of equal opportunities, convener of community services, the first female lord provost of Dundee, a sitting magistrate for 18 years[6], a prison visitor, chair of the Community Justice Association, chair of the UK local government women's committee, a charity and voluntary worker - including Director, Children in Scotland 2003 - 2007 and President of the Dundee Lions 2015.[4]
From administration to opposition and beyond
[edit]When Labour Councillor Wright served from 1999-2001 as the city of Dundee's first female Lord Provost, she headed a minority administration with a Scottish National Party opposition, with Independent, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives as the other minority groups. Labour lost control of Dundee City Council after a March 2009 by-election result which gave the SNP an additional seat.
Opposition to Wright as lord provost started only weeks after taking up the post, as indicated in the 1999 press article "Moves against lord provost”.[11] As well as being the first woman to hold this post, in 2001 she also became the first in the city to be voted out of office after a row about expenditure and expenses.[12]
She had an official portrait painted by artist Adam B. Kerr which is held in the Dundee Art Galleries and Museum's collections.[5]
After holding the Fairmuir seat continuously from 1980, Wright was re-elected to represent the Coldside Ward in the new single-tier unitary authority in 2007, 2012[13] , 2017 and again in 2022[14].
In 2020, with most UK politicians, she was forced, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, to withdraw from personal face-to-face 'surgery' consulting meetings with her constituents[15] but she now holds five face-to-face surgeries per week. She holds the positions of Bailie, Honorary Fellow and Board Member of Al-Maktoum Institute Council[9], Fleming Trust board member, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Director[16], Chief Whip of the council Labour Group and holds various shadow spokesperson roles.
References
[edit]- ^ "Ward 4 - Coldside - Helen Wright - Dundee City Council". Dundee City Council. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Helen Wright - Dundee Lord Provost 1999 - 2001". Helen Wright - Dundee Lord Provost 1999 - 2001. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Cllr Award 2023 - The Winners - Scotland - LGiU". LGiU. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Helen Wright - Lifetime Legend 2023". Helen Wright Dundee. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Helen Wright - Woman of the Year Guest of Honour". Helen Wright. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Helen Wright - Magistrate and Justice of the Peace". Helen Wright. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Tayside NHS Annual Report 2007/8". NHS Tayside. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Helen WRIGHT personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Governance - Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education". Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Dundee City Integration Joint Board, commonly known as the Dundee Health and Social Partnership Audited Accounts 2018-19 (PDF). p. 4.
- ^ Hislop, Jim (4 October 1999). "Moves against lord provost". The Courier.
- ^ "Provost removed over expenses row". 18 June 2001. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Elections Results 2012 - More Detailed Information". Dundee City Council. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Local Elections 2022 - Results". Dundee City Council. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Ward 4 - Coldside - Helen Wright". Dundee City Council. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Staff and Board - Dundee Rep". Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)