Get involved

Armed Forces and Veterans

The Cross-Party Group on Armed Forces and Veterans exists to promote greater understanding within the Scottish Parliament of the contribution made by serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadet forces, military families, the defence sector and the wider Armed Forces community.

The Group will provide a genuinely cross-party forum bringing together MSPs with representatives of the Armed Forces, veterans' organisations, cadet organisations, military charities, employers, local authorities, the defence industry, academic institutions and others with an interest in supporting the Armed Forces community.

The Group will:

promote a positive understanding of the contribution made by serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets and military families to society
encourage collaboration between Parliament, government, employers, charities, educational institutions and the Armed Forces community
support implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant and promote best practice across Scotland
explore issues affecting serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets and military families, recognising both the challenges they may face and the many successful examples of service, leadership and transition
promote understanding of Scotland's defence sector, recognising its importance to national security, economic growth, advanced manufacturing, research, innovation, apprenticeships and highly skilled employment
consider matters relating to national resilience and civil preparedness, recognising the increasingly important contribution made by the Armed Forces, reservists, industry and wider society in responding to changing global security challenges
provide Parliament with informed discussion and evidence on matters affecting the Armed Forces community.

Get in touch

If you want to get in touch, you can contact the CPG's convener Stephen Kerr MSP.

Email: [email protected]

Involved in the group

MSPs, individuals and organisations who participate in and support this group.

Current Members

Stephen Kerr

Convener

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: Mid Scotland and Fife (Region)

Jackie Baillie

Deputy Convener

Party: Scottish Labour

MSP for: Dumbarton (Constituency)

Lloyd Melville

Deputy Convener

Party: Scottish National Party

MSP for: Angus South (Constituency)

Laura Mitchell

Deputy Convener

Party: Scottish National Party

MSP for: Moray (Constituency)

David Smith

Deputy Convener

Party: Reform UK

MSP for: West Scotland (Region)

James Adams

Member

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: North East Scotland (Region)

Tim Eagle

Member

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: Highlands and Islands (Region)

Meghan Gallacher

Member

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: Central Scot and Lothians West (Region)

Rachael Hamilton

Member

Party: Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for: Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Constituency)

Thomas Kerr

Member

Party: Reform UK

MSP for: Glasgow (Region)

Willie Rennie

Member

Party: Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for: Fife North East (Constituency)

Mark Simpson

Member

Party: Reform UK

MSP for: North East Scotland (Region)

Paul Sweeney

Member

Party: Scottish Labour

MSP for: Glasgow (Region)

Non MSP Individuals

Maurice Corry (Chair)
Jim Wilson (Secretary)
Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith (Edinburgh Napier University)

Organisations

Representatives from:

the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force
Reserve Forces
Cadet organisations
Veterans' organisations
Armed Forces charities
Local Authority Armed Forces Champions
military families organisations
employers supporting veterans and reservists
universities and colleges
the defence, aerospace, maritime and security industries
skills and apprenticeship organisations
organisations with responsibilities relating to national resilience and civil preparedness.

Group work

Minutes

Minute 4 August 2026 (162KB, pdf) posted 19 August 2026