Serena Cowdy

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Serena Mary Cowdy (born 1980) is an British politician and writer. She lives in Scotland and represents the Scottish National Party (SNP) on the Angus Council.

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Early life

Serena Cowdy was born in Peterborough in 1980. [1] Her father was an actor and civil servant. Her parents divorced when she was seven and Cowdy was subsequently raised solely by her father in London after her mother remarried. Her grandfather on her mother's side, Andrew King, was an actor. Cowdy is of English and Irish ancestry. [2]

Cowdy is a graduate of Oxford University, with a degree in Modern History from St Hilda's College.[ citation needed ]

Career

Cowdy had an early career acting in plays, short films and television adverts before turning to journalism. She worked as a consumer rights and personal finance journalist for various publications, and also covered political issues for The House, the in-house magazine of the houses of Parliament, The Huffington Post, and PoliticsHome. [3] She has a particular interest in nationalism in politics, having studied Irish nationalism at university.

Personal life

In May 2016, questions were raised about expenses claims for hotel accommodation of two Scottish National Party members of the House of Commons, Stewart Hosie and Angus MacNeil, who were reported to have had relationships with Cowdy. [4] [5] [6] Both MPs were reported to the Parliamentary expenses watchdog by a Conservative Party MP over their expenses claims, [7] however, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Hudson, ruled that there was no basis to launch an inquiry into the matter. [8]

Cowdy has been married to Stewart Hosie MP since 2018.

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References

  1. England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcription. Retrieved 19 May 2016. (subscription required)
  2. A Political Experience I Will Never Forget - What's Yours? Serena Cowdy, Huffington Post, 11 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  3. Sarah Vine's vicious takedown of Serena Cowdy is no surprise: this is how Westminster treats women. Hannah Fearn, The Independent , 18 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  4. Married SNP MPs in 'love triangle' face questions over expenses claims. Tom Morgan, Auslan Cramb, Harry Yorke, The Telegraph , 18 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. Two SNP MPs accused of having affairs with same Westminster reporter following deputy party leader's marriage split. Keith McLeod, Scottish Daily Record , 17 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  6. Scots MPs’ marriages end after alleged affairs with journalist. Kevin Rawlinson, The Times , 17 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  7. SNP MPs reported to expenses watchdog by Tory MSP. BBC News, 18 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  8. Expenses of SNP MPs Hosie and MacNeil 'will not be investigated'. BBC News, 26 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.