Paul O'Kane

Paul Francis O'Kane is a Scottish Labour politician who has served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the West Scotland region since 2021.

Early life

Born in Paisley and raised in Neilston, O'Kane attended St Luke's High School in Barrhead where he was Head Boy. From there he went onto study at the University of Glasgow for an MA (Hons) in English Literature and Politics. Whilst attending the University of Glasgow, he was chair of the University Labour Club.

Third Sector career

After graduating from University, O'Kane worked as a Development Officer with Volunteer Centre East Dunbartonshire. He then worked for the Beardmore Trust in Clydebank. Prior to his election to the Scottish Parliament he worked for seven years with ENABLE Scotland, a major learning disability charity and social care provider, leaving the role of Policy and Participation Manager upon his election to Parliament.

Political career

He served as a member of East Renfrewshire Council from 2012 representing the people of Neilston, Uplawmoor and Newton Mearns North and served as Deputy Education convenor. He was re-elected in 2017 to represent the new council ward Newton Mearns North and Neilston following boundary changes and became Deputy Leader of East Renfrewshire Council as well as Convenor for Education and Equalities. He was the Scottish Labour group leader on the council from 2017 to 2021. He stood down as a Councillor at the 2022 Council Elections.

On 6 April 2015, he was chased down a street in Barrhead by a man with a chainsaw while campaigning for Jim Murphy in the 2015 general election.

O'Kane has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament for West Scotland since the 2021 Scottish Parliament Election. He served as Deputy Convenor of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee from 2021 until 2023 and Scottish Labour Shadow Minister for Public Health, Social Care and Drugs Policy. In April 2023 he was promoted to the position of Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Social and Equalities replacing Pam Duncan Glancy who moved to the Education and Skills Portfolio.

Personal life

Paul O'Kane is openly gay and the first openly gay man elected to the Scottish Parliament for Scottish Labour. Paul married his husband, Alan in August 2021.