West Renfrewshire MSP to stand at the next Scottish Elections in May 2011

Aug 4 2010 by Cameron Hay, Paisley Daily Express

A CAMPAIGNING politician is to stand down as MSP for West Renfrewshire ahead of next summer’s Scottish Parliament elections.

Labour stalwart Trish Godman, left, has served as an MSP since 1999 but has now decided the forthcoming elections will be the ideal time to quit Holyrood.

Born in Govan a month after the outbreak of the Second World War, 71-year-old Ms Godman was a Glasgow City councillor before Devolution and, prior to that, she was a social worker operating in the East End of the city.

After leaving school at the age of 15, she held a number of jobs, including as a waitress, a barmaid, an insurance collector and a house mother in a list D school.

She later attended Jordanhill College, where she trained as a social worker.

During her time in parliament, Ms Godman has been committed to issues of equality and fairness.

She has been involved in the effort to support those who suffer mental illness, alcohol and drug addiction and debt problems.

Ms Godman has also been a keen supporter of the End Prostitution Now campaign and the fight to end the controversial ‘trade’ in child footballers.

In 2003, she was appointed Deputy Presiding Officer of the Parliament and she continues to hold that position.

Last night, Ms Godman’s Labour colleague Hugh Henry paid tribute to her work as a MSP.

Mr Henry, who is MSP for Paisley South, said: “Trish Godman has been an outstanding local MSP and it has been a privilege to work with her, not only in fighting Renfrewshire’s corner but also raising issues in the Scottish Parliament.

“I’ve known Trish for many years, going back to when she was a shop steward in the social work department, and she has always been a fighter for ordinary working people.”