    Something about me -
I have lived and worked in the Constituency of Dumfriesshire Tweeddale and Clydesdale for over 15 years.
Scottish Labour Party - I was selected by secret ballot on first preferences as Westminster candidate for this constituency earlier this year at an all members' meeting in Moffat.
I am Chair of the Scottish Labour Party . I have just chaired our Scottish pre-Election Conference in Glasgow welcoming Gordon Brown. (see news section) As Chair, my priorities are a Just Solution to Climate Change locally and globally and to support more Labour women and young people to become candidates at all levels particularly local government level.
I oversaw the election of the Scottish Labour Leader and Deputy Leader in the Scottish Parliament with the Chair Dave Watson of Unison and Hugh Scullion of Unite who is Treasurer of the Party. I am proud that this election was an all member postal ballot which also enabled the unions and affiliated socialist societies and Co-operative Party members to have a vote. We have a really strong Leader and Deputy Leader in Iain Gray and Johann Lamont. I have been on the Scottish Executive Committee, the ruling body of the Scottish Labour Party for almost 10 years, representing members from the South of Scotland and the Lothians. I enjoy the challenge of trying to ensure that Constituency Labour Party members are involved with the Party and the direction it is going in.
A member of the Labour Party Scottish Policy Forum, which involves our members in developing policy in Scotland, I have worked hard to involve all members who wish to take part in the South of Scotland. Members have asked me to take forward policies on a wide range of issues including affordable housing, dental provision, women's mental health, integrated public transport, reopening of stations, renewable energy and energy efficiency and waste targets, support for co-ops and sustainable jobs and more! The open policy process has meant that many new commitments have been taken through on behalf of members and have gone into our last two Scottish parliament manifestos. These commitments have been acted on to help people in my prospective Constituency and throughout Scotland. The policy round is well under way and was highlighted in debates at the March Scottish Conference 2010 which I chaired. The second year consultation will lead to the next Scottish Parliament Elections and our Manifesto for 2011. We aim for it to be a truly MEMBERS' MANIFESTO.
Constituency Labour Party Women's Officer - In this role I have been determined to support more women coming forward to represent our Party at all levels. With others, including Esther Serrels, ex Deputy Provost of South Lanarkshire Council, I have organised a number of local events including on women's mental health, leading to taking forward the development of support for mental health issues, including fighting for the need for more adolescent in and out patient support. I am determined to continue to fight for the best provision for us all if and when we feel mentally frail at any time in our lives. We have also held events on the challenges for women of all ages with speakers from 15 to 80 something years of age! - all sharing our perspectives on life's challenges. We have also held events and worked at European elections to support our woman candidate and now MEP Catherine Stilher. I went on the Guid Cause March in celebration of 100 years since the first Suffragette March in Edinburgh. (see news)
South Clydesdale Branch Chair - I have been an active member of my local branch for 13 years and Chair for a good part of this. I believe strongly in accountibility within the Party.
SERA Scotland - I am a long term member of the Socialist Environment Resources Association (SERA ) Scotland and am committed to sustainable development from local to global. This organisation is a green pressure group and think tank which is affiliated to the Labour Party. It is also UK wide. The Scottish group are all volunteers. I have edited two booklets for the organsiation - "Sustainable Jobs" and "Renewable energy and Energy Efficiency in Scotland". If you contact me I can send you a copy for the p&p of £1. We have aslo held Labour fringe meetings to raise awareness of sustainable agriculture, waste minimisation ( another booklet available) sustainable marine and coastal communites and sustainble transport. We contribute strongly to the Scottish Labour policy making process and have members who are MPs MSPs and Councillors.
Teaching - I am a primary teacher and work part time in 2 South Lanarkshire rural primary schools. I work across the primary age range teaching composite classes, teaching writing, maths, science, french and personal and social education. I love my work and it is great to wake up on a Monday morning and head for school knowing I am part of a great team.
I am the Eco Schools Co-ordinator in both schools and we have worked to gain Eco Schools status over the past few years. this involves the pupils taking a lead in sustainability issues from local to global. We have raised awareness of and developed strategies to "reduce reuse and recycle" throughout the age range. We have developed our school grounds in an environmentally friendly way. In one school we have explored issues of global citizenship and were involved in this year's UNICEF "Day of Change". Both schools have been awarded the top award of the Green Flag which we will fly with pride when we have arranged flag poles!
Co-operative party candidate - In addition to being a Scottish Labour candidate for Westminster, I am a Co-op Party candidate of which I am also really proud. The Co-operative Party website can be found here. I know that Co-operative ideals and practice have a lot of offer a rural constituency across the range of sectors and serivces, not least in these challenging economic times for us all. I will be setting up a page about Co-op Action soon.
A bit more about me - I live near the small village of Pettiain between Biggar and Lanark with my partner Michael who is an actor and a carer with autistic adults and children with the Scottish Society for Autism. My daughter Freya is studing law and economics at Edinburgh University and my son Francis has jsut finished 6th year at Lanark Grammar and a Gorenment scheme working for Platform 2 in India. . We grow some of our own food and try to manage and develop interesting colour and wildlife opportunities in quite a big garden! I like watching dvds on winter nights by the wood burning stove with my family. We try to share the cooking and housework. We are gradually insulating the roof of our old stone house! I enjoy swimming, tennis and film and am a member of New Lanark Health Club.
CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Claudia Hamilton Beamish
Scottish Labour Party and Co-operative Party Candidate
Dumfriesshire Clydesdale and Tweeddale Constituency
These are details of my current paid employment and other interests
Paid Employment Details
Primary Teacher (part time ) South Lanarkshire Council
Council Offices Almada Street Hamilton ML3 OEA
Land and property - apart from main residence
Declaration ends | 
