View AccountCaricature of Margaret Herbison MP
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Peggy Herbison taught for 15 years before being elected in 1945 as the second woman Labour M.P. for North Lanarkshire. Her service in the House of Commons covered 25 years. She rose quickly to become a member of the Cabinet and held a number of important posts. She was joint Under Secretary of State in the Scottish Office 1950-1951, which she described as one of the highlights of her career. In 1949 she attended the first European Parliament, as the only female delegate. In 1956/57 she was chairman of the Labour Party. In Government from 1964-67, as Minister of Pensions and National Insurance, she was responsible for setting up the Ministry of Social Security under Harold Wilson. In 1970 she became the first woman to represent the Queen as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. That same year she was elected Scotswoman of the Year