Claire Baker
A steadfast Scottish Labour politician who has championed arts, culture, and social justice from the backbenches of Holyrood for over fifteen years.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Scottish Labour politician·Birthday: March 4·Generation X
Biography
Claire Baker represents a strand of Scottish Labour rooted in practical, community-focused politics rather than headline-grabbing rhetoric. Elected as a list MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife in 2007, she has built a reputation as a diligent and principled figure. Her tenure has been defined by a consistent focus on the arts, a sector she believes is vital to social and economic health, often holding the government to account on cultural funding. Beyond the stage and gallery, Baker has been a vocal advocate for women's rights, prison reform, and improving palliative care. She served in Labour's shadow cabinet in various roles, including health and justice, bringing a measured critique to government policy. While her party has faced profound challenges in Scotland, Baker has maintained a steady presence, focusing on committee work and constituency service, embodying the often-unseen legislative graft that shapes daily life.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Claire was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Claire Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Claire's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Scottish Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, scrutinizing government policy on the arts.
- Elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Mid Scotland and Fife region in 2007 and re-elected in subsequent elections.
- Acted as Convener of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Palliative Care, advocating for improved end-of-life services.
- Previously held the role of Shadow Minister for Health and Sport in Scottish Labour's frontbench team.
Did You Know?
Before entering politics, she worked as a development officer for the Workers' Educational Association (WEA), focusing on adult education.
She is a graduate of the University of Stirling, where she studied English and film & media studies.
Baker has been a strong supporter of the campaign to reform the law on women's sanitary products, advocating for their provision in schools and public places.
“We must protect our public services; they are the bedrock of a decent society.”
