Jean Turner

Who is Jean Turner?

Dr. Jean McGivern Turner is a former Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden.

Prior to her election, Turner was a General practitioner in the Springburn area in Glasgow for 25 years. Before that, she was an anaesthetist for ten years. She was lured to seek political office due to an proposed cut to services at Stobhill Hospital. Turner also campaigned against Labour's treatment of the NHS. Because of this, she stood as a candidate in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden Holyrood by-election of 2001. In that race, she finished second with 7,572 votes or 18%. In the 2003 Scottish parliamentary elections, she stood again in Strathkelvin and Bearsden on the same platform she used in 2001. This time, Turner won the seat with 10,988 votes or 31%. This win prompted her opponent, Labour MSP Brian Fitzpatrick, to remark:

"Narrow win, big win, whatever, it is still a disappointment, but we are coming back for this seat."

Jean Turner stood for re-election at the Scottish Parliament election, 2007 in May, but lost her seat to the Labour candidate, David Whitton.