Clare Haughey

Clare Joan Haughey (née Donnelly, born April 1967) is a Scottish politician who served as Minister for Children and Young People from 2021 to 2023, having previously served as Minister for Mental Health from 2018 to 2021. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she has served as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Rutherglen and Cambuslang since the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, having previously represented Rutherglen from 2016 until its abolition in 2026.

Nursing career Haughey trained as a mental health nurse and worked as a clinical nurse manager. Her family were based in Australia for some years.

Political career In September 2015, the SNP branch selected her as the candidate for the Rutherglen constituency, ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. The constituency had been held by Labour since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 until the election in May 2016, when Haughey defeated the incumbent James Kelly.

On 27 June 2018, Haughey was appointed as the Scottish Government's Minister for Mental Health.

She retained the Rutherglen seat in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, with an increased majority and just over 50% of the vote share.

On 19 May 2021, Haughey was appointed to the new government as Minister for Children and Young People.

On 29 March 2023, Haughey was appointed as the Convenor of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee.