Early Life
Devine was born and brought up in Blackburn, West Lothian and was educated in Bathgate. He served as election agent to Livingston Constituency Labour Party and to the former MP Robin Cook from the 1983 general election until Cook's death in 2005. From 1994 to 1995 he was the Chairman of the Scottish Labour Party.
Prior to his election, Devine worked as a full time trade union official for the Confederation of Health Service Employees and then as Head of Health in the Scottish Region of the public sector union UNISON. Before becoming a trade union official Devine was a mental health nurse, having trained and worked at Bangour Village Hospital in Dechmont.
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