Jennie Lee

That this House understands that a new play by Knights Theatre about the life of Jennie Lee will premiere at the Lochgelly Centre on 1 November 2024, with performances also on 2 November, before moving to Dunfermline’s Carnegie Hall for further performances; further understands that an Open University exhibition about Jennie Lee is concurrently running at the Lochgelly Centre until 2 November; notes that Jennie Lee was born in Lochgelly in 1904 and that the play and exhibition marks what would have been her 120th birthday; further notes that Jennie Lee was elected as the MP for North Lanark in 1929 at the age of 24, before she could legally vote; recognises Jennie Lee’s contribution to arts, culture and education as the first ever Minister for the Arts; further recognises her drive and commitment to the founding of The Open University; acknowledges that The Open University in Scotland celebrates over 200,000 alumni since its inception in 1969; and congratulates playwright Matthew Knights, The Open University in Scotland, OnFife and Creative Scotland on their partnership to bring the story of Jennie Lee to life.