Dr Lisa Cameron MP- Who is She?

Dr Lisa Cameron was first elected as the SNP MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven, Stonehouse & Lesmahagow in 2015, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 13,322.

The South Lanarkshire constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow is found in Central Scotland. East Kilbride itself was once a new town, and contains a large base for HMRC. This seat was gained by the SNP in 2015, and in 2019 possessed one of the SNP’s larger majorities in Scotland.

In September 2023, Lisa Cameron defected to the Conservative Party after she accused the SNP of a “toxic and bullying” culture.

She hit out at the SNP Westminster group for failing to reach out during a period in which she suffered a “significant deterioration” in her “health and wellbeing”, something she suggests came as a result of “bullying”.

She said she was the “victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP” and adds that the “leadership supported the perpetrator’s interests”.

She also praised praised Rishi Sunak for “valuing my continued contribution to Parliament as a health professional”.

Cameron’s defection came just days before the SNP’s conference got underway in Aberdeen.

Speaking to the Scottish Daily Mail, Ms Cameron said: “I do not feel able to continue in what I have experienced as a toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group, which resulted in my requiring counselling for a period of 12 months in Parliament and caused significant deterioration in my health and wellbeing as assessed by my GP including the need for antidepressants.

“I will never regret my actions in standing up for a victim of abuse at the hands of an SNP MP last year, but I have no faith remaining in a party whose leadership supported the perpetrator’s interests over that of the victims and who have shown little to no interest in acknowledging or addressing the impact.

‘Totally inappropriate!’: Speaker intervenes to quiet Conservative jeering as Lisa Cameron crosses the floor

“It is also true that I have received no contact from party leadership in the past weeks, despite members of every other main political party contacting me to offer support and compassion during what has been an extremely difficult time.

“I am particularly grateful to the Prime Minister in valuing my continued contribution to Parliament as a health professional and in taking time to listen. It is the first time I have felt heard and shows positive, inclusive leadership in contrast to that which I have encountered in the SNP at Westminster over many years”.

Born in 1972, Cameron was educated at East Milton Primary and Duncanrig Secondary School, and Strathclyde University, graduating in psychology before obtaining her doctorate from Glasgow University.

Prior to starting her political career, she worked as a clinical psychologist in the NHS. According to the Register of Members Interests, she is a shareholder in the psychology assessment firm, Psychological Services Scotland Ltd.

Dr Cameron has acted as an Expert Witness within the Scottish Court system working in cases of childhood sexual abuse and domestic violence.

Dr Lisa Cameron is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mentoring; Psychology; Twelve Steps Recovery Programme for Addiction; Chile; Inclusive Entrepreneurship; and Textiles and Fashion.

She is Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Media; Pro Life; Olympic and Paralympic Games; Pubs; Religion in the Media; Social Media; United Nations; Australia and New Zealand; Bahrain; Belgium; British Overseas Territories; Canada; Channel Islands; China; Japan; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Montserrat; and Learning Disability.

Cameron is married with 2 children.