This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/27/jimmy-wray

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jimmy Wray obituary Jimmy Wray obituary
(4 months later)
Jimmy Wray, who has died at 78, emerged from the colourful tapestry of Glasgow politics to become a Labour MP between 1987 and 2005. A man of the left, Wray was also a lifelong entrepreneur and close friend of the boxing fraternity. One of his signal contributions was to eclipse the bid by the Militant Tendency to gain the parliamentary foothold in Scotland to which it aspired. Militant had long targeted the seat of Glasgow Provan, which included the huge Easterhouse estate, in anticipation of Hugh Brown retiring as MP.Jimmy Wray, who has died at 78, emerged from the colourful tapestry of Glasgow politics to become a Labour MP between 1987 and 2005. A man of the left, Wray was also a lifelong entrepreneur and close friend of the boxing fraternity. One of his signal contributions was to eclipse the bid by the Militant Tendency to gain the parliamentary foothold in Scotland to which it aspired. Militant had long targeted the seat of Glasgow Provan, which included the huge Easterhouse estate, in anticipation of Hugh Brown retiring as MP.
When the selection contest arose in 1985, it was widely expected that the Militant candidate, Jim Cameron, would be selected to succeed him. However Militant had reckoned without Wray's organisational skills, honed over two bruising decades as a Glasgow councillor. He prevailed by one vote and Militant were soon out of the Labour party.When the selection contest arose in 1985, it was widely expected that the Militant candidate, Jim Cameron, would be selected to succeed him. However Militant had reckoned without Wray's organisational skills, honed over two bruising decades as a Glasgow councillor. He prevailed by one vote and Militant were soon out of the Labour party.
Wray was a rough diamond in the age of New Labour, but his gut loyalty greatly exceeded any desire for political posturing. His main political interests lay in countering the ills that most acutely affected the wellbeing of his constituents: poverty, drug abuse and knife crime. In 1997, he piloted through the Knives Act, restricting the sale of deadly weapons, with all-party support.Wray was a rough diamond in the age of New Labour, but his gut loyalty greatly exceeded any desire for political posturing. His main political interests lay in countering the ills that most acutely affected the wellbeing of his constituents: poverty, drug abuse and knife crime. In 1997, he piloted through the Knives Act, restricting the sale of deadly weapons, with all-party support.
However, his longest-running political campaign was against fluoridation of the public water supply, a cause that he pursued with great tenacity both as a councillor and then at Westminster. Wray believed that fluoridation amounted to mass medication without the consent of the people and questioned the dental heath benefits attributed to it.However, his longest-running political campaign was against fluoridation of the public water supply, a cause that he pursued with great tenacity both as a councillor and then at Westminster. Wray believed that fluoridation amounted to mass medication without the consent of the people and questioned the dental heath benefits attributed to it.
He promoted the case pursued in the name of Catherine McColl, a Glasgow grandmother who went to the court of session in order to challenge the right of Strathclyde regional council to introduce fluoride into the water supply. It was at the time the longest hearing in Scottish legal history and Lord Jauncey's eventual ruling in 1983 was in McColl's favour.He promoted the case pursued in the name of Catherine McColl, a Glasgow grandmother who went to the court of session in order to challenge the right of Strathclyde regional council to introduce fluoride into the water supply. It was at the time the longest hearing in Scottish legal history and Lord Jauncey's eventual ruling in 1983 was in McColl's favour.
At Westminster, Wray used his long experience of the subject to resist efforts by the Labour government to reduce local authorities' discretion to prevent fluoridation. He claimed that inner London, which never had fluoride in its water supply, had the best dental health record in the country while attributing the abysmal dental statistics in his own constituency to poverty rather than the absence of fluoride.At Westminster, Wray used his long experience of the subject to resist efforts by the Labour government to reduce local authorities' discretion to prevent fluoridation. He claimed that inner London, which never had fluoride in its water supply, had the best dental health record in the country while attributing the abysmal dental statistics in his own constituency to poverty rather than the absence of fluoride.
Wray was born into a large family of Irish extraction in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. His first business venture was as a coal merchant, delivering by horse and cart before graduating to lorries. In summer, when demand for coal dropped, he dealt in scrap metal and as a street trader. His interests expanded to include property development.Wray was born into a large family of Irish extraction in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. His first business venture was as a coal merchant, delivering by horse and cart before graduating to lorries. In summer, when demand for coal dropped, he dealt in scrap metal and as a street trader. His interests expanded to include property development.
He always had an interest in boxing as a means of keeping young people out of trouble and became immersed in a wide range of community organisations as well as rent strikes in the early 1960s. This led him into Labour activism, election as a Glasgow city councillor and subsequently, following local government reorganisation in 1975, to Strathclyde regional council.He always had an interest in boxing as a means of keeping young people out of trouble and became immersed in a wide range of community organisations as well as rent strikes in the early 1960s. This led him into Labour activism, election as a Glasgow city councillor and subsequently, following local government reorganisation in 1975, to Strathclyde regional council.
Wray also acted as election agent for Frank McElhone, the MP for the Gorbals from 1969, who valued his ability to turn out large numbers of workers and vehicles in support of his campaigns. When McElhone died in 1982, Wray unsuccessfully sought the nomination to succeed him and then turned his attentions to Provan, where he built the formidable phalanx of local support which allowed him to see off the Militant challenge.Wray also acted as election agent for Frank McElhone, the MP for the Gorbals from 1969, who valued his ability to turn out large numbers of workers and vehicles in support of his campaigns. When McElhone died in 1982, Wray unsuccessfully sought the nomination to succeed him and then turned his attentions to Provan, where he built the formidable phalanx of local support which allowed him to see off the Militant challenge.
An avuncular and hospitable figure, Wray was well-known for acts of individual generosity towards constituents who were in difficulty and welcomed the regeneration efforts that latterly transformed large parts of his constituency, particularly in Easterhouse. The area remained within the reshaped constituency of Glasgow Baillieston, for which he sat from 1997.An avuncular and hospitable figure, Wray was well-known for acts of individual generosity towards constituents who were in difficulty and welcomed the regeneration efforts that latterly transformed large parts of his constituency, particularly in Easterhouse. The area remained within the reshaped constituency of Glasgow Baillieston, for which he sat from 1997.
Though he had an aversion to flying, he was a member of the Council of Europe. At Westminster, he became the unofficial emissary for boxing, frequently entertaining some of the sport's more exotic characters while inviting fellow MPs to join him at sundry ringsides. He also maintained a sideline as supplier of watches and other items of jewellery to an appreciative parliamentary clientele.Though he had an aversion to flying, he was a member of the Council of Europe. At Westminster, he became the unofficial emissary for boxing, frequently entertaining some of the sport's more exotic characters while inviting fellow MPs to join him at sundry ringsides. He also maintained a sideline as supplier of watches and other items of jewellery to an appreciative parliamentary clientele.
The first two of Wray's three marriages ended in divorce. In 1999, he married Laura Walker, a lawyer. Although they separated in 2010, they did not divorce, and on Jimmy's death, she described him as "a lion of a man" whom she had continued to visit in his final illness. He is also survived by a son and two daughters from his first marriage, and a son from his third.The first two of Wray's three marriages ended in divorce. In 1999, he married Laura Walker, a lawyer. Although they separated in 2010, they did not divorce, and on Jimmy's death, she described him as "a lion of a man" whom she had continued to visit in his final illness. He is also survived by a son and two daughters from his first marriage, and a son from his third.
• James Wray, politician, born 28 April 1935; died 25 May 2013• James Wray, politician, born 28 April 1935; died 25 May 2013
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.