Quick Facts
Biography
Kay Ullrich (born 1943 in Prestwick) is a Scottish politician. She was a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland region from 1999 to 2003.
Early life
Ullrich studied at Queen's College in Glasgow where she obtained the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work. She is married and has two children, one son and one daughter (the journalist Shelley Jofre).
She was a school swimming instructor from 1973-81. She also worked as a school social worker (1984–86), hospital social worker (1986–92) and court social worker (1992–97). She took early retirement in 1997.
Political career
Ullrich contested numerous elections for the SNP: in Cunninghame South (in 1983 and 1987) and Motherwell South (1992), before coming a close second in the Monklands East by-election, 1994.
In the 1999 election she stood as a constituency candidate in Cunninghame North, where she was runner-up to Allan Wilson. However her number two position on the SNP West of Scotland list was enough to take her to Holyrood.
She was initially the SNP's shadow minister for Health and Community Care, and was then appointed Chief Whip upon John Swinney becoming SNP leader in 2000. She stood down at the 2003 election.
She is a member of UNISON.