Kelly has held a number of Scottish Labour frontbench posts including Finance Spokesperson and Justice Spokesperson under Richard Leonard from 2017 to 2020. He served as the Scottish Labour Party's Parliamentary Business Manager at Holyrood as well as Spokesperson for Community Safety and Drugs Policy.
Kelly was elected as MSP for Rutherglen in 2007 Scottish Parliament election.[4] Upon entering the Scottish Parliament,he served on the Finance Committee and as a Labour Whip.[5] From 2008 to 2011,he was a member of the Justice Committee and Shadow Minister for Community Safety.[6]
Kelly in 2011
Kelly was re-elected at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.[7] Following the election of Johann Lamont as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party in the 2011 leadership election,he was appointed Chief Whip in Holyrood. He was subsequently made Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure,Investment and Cities in a reshuffle in June 2013.[8]
After the election of Jim Murphy as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party,Kelly was appointed to succeed Paul Martin as Labour's Parliamentary Business Manager.[9]
In December 2015,Kelly was ejected from the parliamentary debating chamber by presiding officer Tricia Marwick when he refused to sit down after attempting to make a point of order during a trade union bill debate.[13][14]
When Kezia Dugdale resigned as Scottish Labour leader,Kelly's name was touted as a potential successor.[3] In December 2017,Richard Leonard appointed Kelly as his Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution.[22][23] In October 2018,following a reshuffle of the Scottish Labour frontbench in Holyrood,Kelly continued to hold the finance portfolio while Neil Findlay took forward the constitutional brief.[24]
He was reselected in September 2019 as the Scottish Labour and Co-operative candidate for Rutherglen constituency at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.
He served as the Convener of the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-operatives and was the deputy Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Sport.
Repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act
Following his re-election to the Scottish Parliament in May 2016,Kelly took forward his pledge to lead a member's bill to repeal the Offensive Behaviour at Football 2012 Act.[25] He described the 2012 legislation as having "completely failed to tackle sectarianism" and as "illiberal" which "unfairly targets football fans","condemned by legal experts,human rights organisations and equality groups".[26][27]
On 25 January 2018,MSPs voted by 65 to 61 in favour of the general principles of Kelly's Bill in the first stage of Holyrood's legislative process. It marked the first binding defeat in Parliament for the SNP Minority Government.[28] On 15 March,the vote to repeal the Act was passed with 62 in favour and 60 against.[29]
Personally I believe the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act has had an impact, because I think that some people feel wrongly legitimised to behave in a way that they wouldn’t otherwise behave.[31][32]
Justice Spokesperson
In September 2019, Kelly was appointed as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice.[33] He resigned from this role in September 2020 while calling for Richard Leonard's resignation as Scottish Labour leader. In his resignation letter, seen by the Daily Record, James Kelly told Richard Leonard: “I have no confidence in your ability to shape the party's message, strategy and organisation. I know that this is a view shared by other parliamentarians, party members and indeed many members of the public.”[34]
Return to frontbench
Kelly nominated Anas Sarwar in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[35] Following Sarwar's election as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, he was re-appointed as Parliamentary Business Manager as well as spokesperson for Community Safety and Drugs Policy ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[36] In the election he lost out to Clare Haughey in the constituency, and though four Labour candidates were elected on the regional vote, Kelly had been fifth on the party list so was not returned as an MSP.[37]
Personal life
Kelly currently lives in Cambuslang with his wife, Alexa, and their two daughters.[38] He has spoken about his interests in sport, namely football, tennis and running.[39]
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