Jamie Greene MSP is a member of the Scottish Parliament for the West Scotland region and running for leadership of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
“Gay. Catholic. Working class.” How did a boy from a rough council estate on the west coast of Scotland end up on the front bench of the Scottish Tories and vying to be its leader? That’s a good question.
Greenock is an industrial, coastal town. Renowned for its shipbuilding links, both ancient and more controversially recent. Its historic past built the philanthropic wealth which laid the foundations of its ostentatious grey-stone public buildings.
At one end of the town the grand merchants homes adorn streets named after gentry; Eldon, Brougham, Lynedoch. The east-end streets were named after socialist heroes: Cobham, Hardie, Lansbury.
It was a heady mix of ‘isms’: sectarianism, alcoholism, classism, stoicism. The streets were as gritty as the people. The gable ends, as they were known, had ‘God Save the Queen’ daubed on end, and ‘Tiochfaidh Ar La’ on the other.
My “close” (dilapidated tenement for those of a non-vernacular nature) was one of many such. Our top floor flat meant that when dad was drunk and violent there was only one way to run, and that was downstairs. The old couple one floor down went to bed praying they wouldn’t get another 3am knock on the door from the quiet wee lad upstairs. Sadly, they too often did.
We eventually escaped of course, mum and me. I quit school at 16; the “you’re gay” bullying was just too much. I found solace in the local James Watt College – and discovered adult sensibility and humour.
The buzzing student union offered a sanctuary and introduction to politics. I loved every minute. The debate raged over the Dearing Report of ’97 and Labour’s poll tax moment. I was introduced to the world by our student union president at NUS conference in Blackpool, who boldly told me that my background didn’t matter in life, I could be whoever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do. I will never forget that.
After a spell of Whittington-esque travel, I went from job to job, from city to city. I escaped to London, Australia, Spain, Canada, just about anywhere to forget my childhood troubles. But those words stuck with me. “You can do whatever you want in life, be whoever you want to be.” I did my first million quid deal by the age of thirty.
Fast track 20 years, I found myself surrounded by the steel, oak, and granite of the Scottish Parliament having just taken my oath and shaken hands with the then Prince Charles. Elected, and a Tory to boot. I went on to serve as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Education and latterly Justice.
Given my background was neither particularly Unionist nor Conservative, I attribute my foray into politics a by-product of Team Ruth and her 2016 intake of modern, moderate and pragmatic Conservatism. My political views are as straightforward as my debating style: sensible, reasonable, principled.
I learned early on that governments of many colours would never lift my family out of poverty completely. A decent well-paying job, a happy education, and a warm and safe house, however, would. That is as true today as it was in the Nineties.
I learned that getting on in life is nothing to be ashamed of – nay, it is something to be unabashedly proud of. I wanted lifting out of my circumstances, not have things handed down into them.
I have some wonderful childhood memories too, it should be said. But my early experiences shaped my view of the world: be a good member of society, look after your surroundings and those around you, fight for equality and unfairness where you see it, but call out abuse of the system when it stares you in the face.
My mum worked morning, noon, and night so that I had food on the table, whilst others sat back and expected the world to come knocking on their doors. That crucial difference triggered the light bulb moment in my head. You can be fiscally right of centre, yet socially compassionate.
I’ve spoken about all of this many a time, often in difficult and personal detail, because it’s important that political leaders understand what life is like outside of the bubble – things like domestic violence, addiction, mental health, homophobia, poverty, hunger, religious intolerance, bullying, and injustice. I want to hear the Scottish Conservatives talk about these perennial societal issues without shame or shyness.
This is far from a “woe is me” story, Instead, I hope it serves two important purposes. Firstly, to say to young voters directly: think for yourselves! You are not inherently shaped by the views of your parents or peers. Aspiration and success are not dirty words.
Secondly, to demonstrate that labels are for clothes. Do not assume anything about anyone in public life. How you dress or who dyes your hair says nothing about what lies underneath – in my case, a deep-rooted sense of fairness and decency, and an earnest desire to make life better for the next generation of kids growing up in Greenock.
I believe that democracy requires a healthy centre right, one which marries its traditional principles of liberty and freedom, small government, enterprise, and aspiration, with the qualities of social justice and decency.
People who claim those are contradictory schools of thought are wrong. Arguably the winning mix in politics is a party who understands business, cares for the environment, and believes in small government, yet carries its message with compassion and sensibility. The days of angry, shouty politics are over, in my view, and whoever leads the UK or Scottish Conservative parties must acknowledge that.
Compassionate Conservatism will break down preconceptions about who “the Tories” really are. It will win back much lost trust. We Tories win by being centre right from the centre outwards, not the other way around.
I suppose deep down I never really forgot those words: just be yourself! That, perhaps, will be my epitaph one day. For now, it’s very much the mantra of leadership campaign for the Scottish Conservatives.
Jamie Greene MSP is a member of the Scottish Parliament for the West Scotland region and running for leadership of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
“Gay. Catholic. Working class.” How did a boy from a rough council estate on the west coast of Scotland end up on the front bench of the Scottish Tories and vying to be its leader? That’s a good question.
Greenock is an industrial, coastal town. Renowned for its shipbuilding links, both ancient and more controversially recent. Its historic past built the philanthropic wealth which laid the foundations of its ostentatious grey-stone public buildings.
At one end of the town the grand merchants homes adorn streets named after gentry; Eldon, Brougham, Lynedoch. The east-end streets were named after socialist heroes: Cobham, Hardie, Lansbury.
It was a heady mix of ‘isms’: sectarianism, alcoholism, classism, stoicism. The streets were as gritty as the people. The gable ends, as they were known, had ‘God Save the Queen’ daubed on end, and ‘Tiochfaidh Ar La’ on the other.
My “close” (dilapidated tenement for those of a non-vernacular nature) was one of many such. Our top floor flat meant that when dad was drunk and violent there was only one way to run, and that was downstairs. The old couple one floor down went to bed praying they wouldn’t get another 3am knock on the door from the quiet wee lad upstairs. Sadly, they too often did.
We eventually escaped of course, mum and me. I quit school at 16; the “you’re gay” bullying was just too much. I found solace in the local James Watt College – and discovered adult sensibility and humour.
The buzzing student union offered a sanctuary and introduction to politics. I loved every minute. The debate raged over the Dearing Report of ’97 and Labour’s poll tax moment. I was introduced to the world by our student union president at NUS conference in Blackpool, who boldly told me that my background didn’t matter in life, I could be whoever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do. I will never forget that.
After a spell of Whittington-esque travel, I went from job to job, from city to city. I escaped to London, Australia, Spain, Canada, just about anywhere to forget my childhood troubles. But those words stuck with me. “You can do whatever you want in life, be whoever you want to be.” I did my first million quid deal by the age of thirty.
Fast track 20 years, I found myself surrounded by the steel, oak, and granite of the Scottish Parliament having just taken my oath and shaken hands with the then Prince Charles. Elected, and a Tory to boot. I went on to serve as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Education and latterly Justice.
Given my background was neither particularly Unionist nor Conservative, I attribute my foray into politics a by-product of Team Ruth and her 2016 intake of modern, moderate and pragmatic Conservatism. My political views are as straightforward as my debating style: sensible, reasonable, principled.
I learned early on that governments of many colours would never lift my family out of poverty completely. A decent well-paying job, a happy education, and a warm and safe house, however, would. That is as true today as it was in the Nineties.
I learned that getting on in life is nothing to be ashamed of – nay, it is something to be unabashedly proud of. I wanted lifting out of my circumstances, not have things handed down into them.
I have some wonderful childhood memories too, it should be said. But my early experiences shaped my view of the world: be a good member of society, look after your surroundings and those around you, fight for equality and unfairness where you see it, but call out abuse of the system when it stares you in the face.
My mum worked morning, noon, and night so that I had food on the table, whilst others sat back and expected the world to come knocking on their doors. That crucial difference triggered the light bulb moment in my head. You can be fiscally right of centre, yet socially compassionate.
I’ve spoken about all of this many a time, often in difficult and personal detail, because it’s important that political leaders understand what life is like outside of the bubble – things like domestic violence, addiction, mental health, homophobia, poverty, hunger, religious intolerance, bullying, and injustice. I want to hear the Scottish Conservatives talk about these perennial societal issues without shame or shyness.
This is far from a “woe is me” story, Instead, I hope it serves two important purposes. Firstly, to say to young voters directly: think for yourselves! You are not inherently shaped by the views of your parents or peers. Aspiration and success are not dirty words.
Secondly, to demonstrate that labels are for clothes. Do not assume anything about anyone in public life. How you dress or who dyes your hair says nothing about what lies underneath – in my case, a deep-rooted sense of fairness and decency, and an earnest desire to make life better for the next generation of kids growing up in Greenock.
I believe that democracy requires a healthy centre right, one which marries its traditional principles of liberty and freedom, small government, enterprise, and aspiration, with the qualities of social justice and decency.
People who claim those are contradictory schools of thought are wrong. Arguably the winning mix in politics is a party who understands business, cares for the environment, and believes in small government, yet carries its message with compassion and sensibility. The days of angry, shouty politics are over, in my view, and whoever leads the UK or Scottish Conservative parties must acknowledge that.
Compassionate Conservatism will break down preconceptions about who “the Tories” really are. It will win back much lost trust. We Tories win by being centre right from the centre outwards, not the other way around.
I suppose deep down I never really forgot those words: just be yourself! That, perhaps, will be my epitaph one day. For now, it’s very much the mantra of leadership campaign for the Scottish Conservatives.