List of independent members of the Scottish Parliament
This is a list of independent MSPs. It includes all members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) who sat as independent politicians in the Scottish Parliament.
As of May 2021[update], only three people have ever been elected to the Scottish Parliament as independent candidates. Dennis Canavan and Jean Turner were independents throughout their time in the Parliament. Margo MacDonald was elected in 1999 as a Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate, but sat as an independent after her expulsion in early 2003, and was re-elected three times as an independent candidate.
The other nine MSPs who sat as independents did so after leaving the party for which they had been elected. Some resigned from their party, and others were suspended or expelled. Margo MacDonald was the only former party MSP to win re-election as an independent, but John Finnie was re-elected in 2016 as a Scottish Greens candidate.
List of MSPs
Name | Constituency or region | Type | Party when first elected | Start year (as independent) | End year (as independent) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dennis Canavan[1] | Falkirk West | Constituency | Independent | 1999 | 2007 | Retired |
Dorothy-Grace Elder[2] | Glasgow | Region | Scottish National Party | 2002 | 2003 | Retired |
John Finnie[3] | Highlands and Islands | Region | Scottish National Party | 2012[note 1] | 2016 | Re-elected in 2016 for Greens |
Margo MacDonald[4] | Lothians | Region | Scottish National Party | 2003 | 2011 | Constituency abolished |
Lothian | Region | Independent | 2011 | 2014 | Died | |
Derek Mackay[5] | Renfrewshire North and West | Constituency | Scottish National Party | 2020 | 2021 | Retired |
Campbell Martin[6] | West of Scotland | Region | Scottish National Party | 2004 | 2007 | Defeated |
Mark McDonald[7] | Aberdeen Donside | Constituency | Scottish National Party | 2018 | 2021 | Retired |
Brian Monteith[8] | Mid Scotland and Fife | Region | Conservative | 2005 | 2007 | Retired |
Jean Turner[9] | Strathkelvin and Bearsden | Constituency | Independent | 2003 | 2007 | Defeated |
Jean Urquhart[10] | Highlands and Islands | Region | Scottish National Party | 2012[note 2] | 2016 | Retired |
Bill Walker[11] | Dunfermline | Constituency | Scottish National Party | 2012 | 2013 | Resigned |
John Wilson[12] | Central Scotland | Region | Scottish National Party | 2014 | 2016 | Defeated |
Notes
- ^ John Finnie was elected at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election as a Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate. He resigned from the SNP on 23 October 2012, and sat as an independent MSP until the 2016 election. He joined the Scottish Greens in 2014, but did not join Green group of MSPs until he was re-elected in 2016 a Green candidate.
- ^ Jean Urquhart was elected at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election as a Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate. She resigned from the SNP on 23 October 2012, and sat as an independent MSP until she retired at the * 2016 election
References
- ^ "Dennis Canavan". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Dorothy-Grace Elder". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "John Finnie". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Margo MacDonald". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Derek Mackay". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Campbell Martin". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Mark McDonald". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Brian Monteith". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Jean Turner". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Jean Urquhart". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Bill Walker". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "John Wilson". Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
External links
- Current and previous Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), on the Scottish Parliament website