Celebrating Glasgow’s Extraordinary Leader: The Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren Awarded Honorary Degree

Graduations are a celebration of hard-earned achievements, years of study, and marks the beginning of a new chapter full of possibilities. But it’s also a moment to recognise those whose courage, leadership, and compassion have made a lasting impact beyond campus.

This summer, the University of Strathclyde awarded honorary degrees to eleven individuals who have not only excelled in their fields but have also inspired others through their actions. Among them was Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Jacqueline McLaren – honoured for her outstanding service to her city and her unwavering commitment to the public good.

For many across the city, this recognition felt especially meaningful. Raised in Maryhill, McLaren remembers her neighbourhood with fondness. It is by the Forth and Clyde Canal that she played and fished with her brothers. It is also a place where everybody knew you. It was “just a happy, idyllic childhood living,” says The Lord Provost.

It was at Maryhill’s Tesco in 2015 that she first heard about the planned cuts to school bus services. The proposed changes would have hit the most vulnerable families the hardest, limiting children’s access to education and opportunity. “For me, the red line is if you’re doing budget savings, you never ever take budget money from children,” says the Lord Provost. Unwilling to stand by, she went door to door, speaking directly with residents, rallying support, and boldly gathering 4,000 signatures.

With this strong backing, McLaren fearlessly called on local parents to bring their pots and pans to the City Chambers, making a loud, united demand for the reinstatement of the vital school bus services.

Thanks to this determined grassroots campaign, led by McLaren, the effort ultimately succeeded – and the school buses were reinstated.

To her neighbours and fellow campaigners, McLaren had proven herself a determined and compassionate leader. So when local elections came around in 2017, it was her own community who urged her to run.

Although politics hadn’t been part of her original plan, McLaren won the election and was appointed as an SNP councillor for Glasgow’s Canal Ward. It marked the beginning of her journey in public service, during which empowering communities became her leading priority. 

Her deep connection to the community she serves and unwavering passion helped lead McLaren to one of the city’s highest honours: becoming Glasgow’s Lord Provost. 

Her journey began with a fight to keep children’s dreams alive – dreams much like the one she had as a young girl starting primary school, inspired by her teacher and Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon.

The Lord Lieutenant dreamed big: whether it was exploring space by following in Armstrong’s footsteps or traveling through time like Doctor Who. She wanted to study at university and become an astronaut.

“Space is a great, untapped place that humans don’t know a lot about. They only know so much,” she still reflects.

Although life took a different path and she didn’t get to study exactly as she once imagined, McLaren embraced every opportunity that came her way. That’s how she “fell into politics” she says. It wasn’t a planned path, but it was her deep love for community and heartfelt drive to help others that continues to guide her work today. 

When asked about her proudest achievement, McLaren says it’s encouraging children across the city. As part of a public engagement initiative, she invited 6,000 children aged 10 to 12 to visit the City Chambers, learn about her role, and help design a new mascot for Glasgow. The winning design – a blue-maned lion wearing Billy Connolly’s iconic banana boots – is proudly displayed in the Lord Provost’s office.

McLaren also supports the Young Strathclyder programme run by the University aimed at raising awareness of higher education, boosting attainment, and creating opportunities for young people to learn and grow. She joined the P7 Young Strathclyder graduation celebrations to congratulate pupils and inspire them as they transition to secondary school.

In over 550 years of Glasgow having a Lord Provost, McLaren is only the sixth woman to hold the role. Since taking this position, she has faced increased hostility and abuse. Unafraid to speak openly about the violence faced by women, the Lord Provost is committed to raising awareness by supporting initiatives such as the Sophie’s Stop app. Launched through a partnership between Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Girls Club, the app is part of the Where We Stop campaign, which raises awareness of violence against women and girls and provides vital information about available support services. 

“They call you out for things like your weight, how you look, if your hair is a mess. They wouldn’t have done that to a man. Previous men in this role have probably not been subjected to that.”

When it comes to politics, the abuse she faced has not stopped her from empowering others. She currently mentors Veronique Bertholle, Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg, through the Eurocities Academy’s Women Leaders Mentorship Programme, which supports female leaders across Europe. If anything, she strongly inspires women to be fearless and get involved in politics. 

During her speech at the School of Government and Public Policy graduation ceremony, the SNP politician shared her philosophy for life: “Don’t give up and don’t dwell on mistakes.” 

To students, the honour given to McLaren felt like a recognition of that very spirit; of not giving up, of simply putting one foot in front of the other. Of taking life as it comes, but showing up, doing your best, and becoming the best version of yourself. 

“An ordinary woman doing extraordinary things,” she says of herself. And yes, in her time away from the office, she’s just like many of us. She’ll sit down with a book by her favourite author, Stephen King, and put on a Netflix show.

Ever since reading Stephen King’s debut novel Carrie, the Lord Provost has been hooked on the horror genre. “You’ll probably think this is crazy,” she laughs, “but I do like The Walking Dead. I’ve got that [on Netflix], and I’ve got Supernatural on one of the other channels. I’m watching the two simultaneously, depending on how I feel. I like horror.”

But even then, as she says, she can’t switch off entirely. Being a woman, she laughs, she multitasks. Even while watching Sam and Dean Winchester hunt demons, she’s thinking about the people of Glasgow and the community she serves. 

With that community in mind, her office door stays open, so anyone who needs her can come, talk to her, and know they’ve been heard.