The Christian Socialist Movement has been saddened at the news that David Cairns MP passed away on Monday. He will be much missed.
David was a good friend of CSM and many members will remember him with great affection. Trained as a Roman Catholic priest, David was appointed CSM’s Coordinator in 1994 (a position subsequently renamed Director). David helped CSM engage with politics at a time when interest in faith and politics was reviving. Labour leader John Smith had transformed debate on the issue with his CSM Tawney Lecture in 1993. His successor, Tony Blair, was also a Christian Socialist and interest in CSM increased. David worked to ensure CSM became more professional in the way it was run and able to engage more effectively with policy debates in the Labour Party.
David was first elected to parliament in 2001 as Labour MP for Greenock and Inverclyde (now called Inverclyde). He served as parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister of State at the Scotland Office from 2005 until 2008.
David was 44 when he passed away, having suffered from acute pancreatitis.
CSM Chair Alun Michael MP said: “CSM wouldn’t be around today in its present form if it wasn’t for the work David and others did all those years ago.”
CSM Director Andy Flannagan said: “David was a lovely guy who continued to encourage CSM even while busy putting Christian values into practice as an MP and minister.”
Our sympathies go out to David’s partner, Dermot, his father, John, and his brother, Billy.
David Cairns, Labour MP for Inverclyde, died at 11.00 pm yesterday after a short illness. He was 44 years old.
He leaves behind his partner Dermot, his brother Billy and his father, John.
Tom Harris MP wrote the following touching tribute:
"David was first elected to Parliament at the 2001 general election and served as both Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister of State at the Scotland Office from 2005 until 208.
He was born and raised in Greenock, the town he would later represent in the Commons. He attended Notre Dame High School and later trained as a Roman catholic Priest before he became drawn into Labour politics as director of the Christian Socialist Movement. He then worked for Siobhan McDonagh, MP for Mitcham, and Morden in London, before being selected as Labour’s candidate in Greenock and Inverclyde, as the seat was then known.
Following the 2005 election, he was appointed by Tony Blair to the Scotland Office. When Gordon Brown succeeded Blair in June 2007, David was promoted to Minister of State. In September 2008, however, he resigned after he was identified by the media as a minister who was unhappy with the leadership of then Prime Minister. Told he could remain in post provided he restated publicly his support for Brown’s continuing leadership of the Labour Party, David chose instead to leave office.
David was a gifted and popular MP with a political instinct that was second to none. He was absolutely committed to the Labour movement and to Labour’s electoral success.
As a back bencher he piloted a Private Member’s Bill onto the statute books, protecting shop workers from being forced to work on Sundays against their will. As a minister he brought an unfailing political instinct to the Scotland Office when it needed it most.
And as a member of the Culture Select Committee in the last 12 months - and since before then - he championed Scottish broadcasting and TV production.
He also knew more about David Bowie than David Bowie did; after his principled resignation from the government, I changed the ringtone on my phone so that whenever he called me, “Rebel Rebel” would play.
And although he would strenuously disagree, he performed the worst ever impersonation of Mrs Bridges (out of Upstairs Downstairs) that has ever been attempted.
David was admitted to hospital eight weeks ago with pancreatitis.
David was one of my closest friends, inside or outside politics. He was incredibly clever and funny and loyal. I can’t believe I will never see him again. And I dread how much I’m going to miss him."
