About your Member of Parliament

Your MP (Michael Shanks) represents you, and all of the people who live in Rutherglen, at the UK Parliament in Westminster.

MPs split their time between Parliament and their constituency. In Parliament, they debate and vote on new laws, review existing laws, and question the Government. In the constituency, their focus is on supporting local people and championing local issues. They have a small staff team who help with casework, maintain their diaries, and monitor their inbox.

What you can do

• Find out more about your MP, including their voting summary, register of interests and recent speeches.
• Write to your MP, or find out about your other local representatives on WriteToThem.com.
• Find out more about Rutherglen on the Local Intelligence Hub.

Profile

Labour MP for Rutherglen

Entered the House of Commons on 6 October 2023 — Byelection

Also represented Rutherglen and Hamilton West

Expenses

• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

• Foreign
• Commonwealth and Development Office
• Treasury
• Department for Culture
• Media and Sport
• Department for Transport
• Department for Business and Trade
• Unrwa
• UNRWA: Finance
• Rwanda: Asylum
• Horizon IT System: Scotland
• UNRWA: Hamas

Currently held offices

• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) (since 9 Jul 2024)

Other offices held in the past

• Member, Great British Energy Bill Committee (11 Sep 2024 to 15 Oct 2024)
• Member, Scottish Affairs Committee (22 Jan 2024 to 30 May 2024)
• Shadow Minister (Scotland) (28 Nov 2023 to 30 May 2024)

Previous MPs in this constituency

• Gregor Mackenzie
• Richard Brooman-White
• Gilbert McAllister
• Allan Chapman
• Herbert Moss
• David Hardie
• William Wright
• Adam Rodger

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Great British Energy Bill Committee (5 out of 5)

Recent appearances

• Written Answers — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Electricity: Infrastructure 14 Mar 2025

  Landowners, businesses and homeowners that have electrical equipment, such as pylons or towers, sited on their land have the right to compensation for the value of their land, as well as for any losses or expenses incurred. Acquiring authorities can also put in place discretionary schemes offering additional compensation. We have published guidance on community funds for electricity...

• Written Answers — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Data Centres: Energy 14 Mar 2025

  The Government supports AI development in the UK and the economic growth it could bring. The Department is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in setting up the AI Energy Council that will have senior representatives from both the energy industry and the AI industry to look at where best to locate AI data centres and to ensure the growth of AI and data...

• Written Answers — Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Infrastructure: Land 14 Mar 2025

  National Policy Statement EN-1 and EN-3 set out the policy for the consideration of the use of best and most versatile land for energy development, but state that “applicants should, where possible, utilise previously developed land, brownfield land, contaminated land and industrial land. Where the proposed use of any agricultural land has been shown to be necessary, poorer quality land...

More of Michael Shanks’s recent appearances

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