Mary Agnes McAlister CBE (née McMackin; 26 April 1896 – 26 February 1976) was an Irish-born Scottish nurse who also went into politics and was a member of parliament for the Labour Party.
[3] She was the eldest child of Charles McMackin, publican, of Rathmullan, son of Joseph McMackin, described as "merchant", and Winnifred Deeny, national teacher, of Glenvar,[1] the eldest child of Charles Deeny, originally from Inniskil, and Sarah McGinley, originally from Legboy, Fanad,[4] both also teachers.
When Walter Elliot, the long-serving and well-regarded Unionist Member of Parliament for Glasgow Kelvingrove, died in January 1958, McAlister was chosen as the Labour Party candidate for the ensuing by-election.
contrasted with the candidate of the further left Independent Labour Party, William Park, who spoke almost solely about international disarmament.
She was not a frequent speaker in Parliament, concentrating on constituency problems; during debate on the 1959 budget, she called for lowering of purchase tax on bedding and furnishings rather than refrigerators and washing machines.