Policitian. Born in Hong Kong, Baillie attended school in the English Lake District, during which time she would often stay with her maternal grandparents in Lenzie. She continued her education at Cumbernauld College and the University of Strathclyde, and went on to work in local government, while involving herself in Labour politics.
She was elected as Member of the newly-formed Scottish Parliament for Dumbarton in 1999 and has served that constituency ever since. She was appointed as Deputy Minister for Communities under Donald Dewar before being promoted to Minister for Social Justice (2000-01) in Henry McLeish's administration. She has held various portfolios while her party were in opposition. Baillie was appointed Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party in 2020 and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2023.
Baillie is a renown campaigner for health and social justice.
