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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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Donald MacKinnon

Scottish Labour

MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Constituency)

About Donald MacKinnon

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6895
Text relay calls welcome.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish Labour
MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Constituency)
07 May 2026 to present

Committees

Donald MacKinnon is a member of 2 committees

Climate Action Committee

Substitute Member

Transport Committee

Member

Cross-party groups

Donald MacKinnon is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Donald MacKinnon does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Donald MacKinnon has 1 party role

Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Donald MacKinnon does not have any previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

Register of interests

Donald MacKinnon's register of interests

MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.

Here is the register for Donald MacKinnon. The date of their initial statement was 11 June 2026.

Remuneration and related undertaking

I am a self-employed crofter on the Isle of Lewis. I spend around 4 days per month on this role earning up to £500 gross per annum, before deductions for tax and national insurance. I am a recipient of various agricultural payments amounting to £3,487.73 per annum from the Scottish Government relating to my crofting business, as part the Basic Payment Scheme, the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, and the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme.

Gifts

No registrable interests.

Overseas visits

No registrable interests.

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests.

Heritable property

No registrable interests.

Interest in shares

No registrable interests.

Voluntary

I hold three croft tenancies on the Isle of Lewis. All crofts have shares in Arnol Common Grazings which is a recipient of agricultural support from the Scottish Government. I am currently clerk of Arnol Common Grazings, I receive no remuneration for this role.

I am a member of the GMB Union.

I am a member of the Fire Brigades Union.

I am a member of the Scottish Crofting Federation.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What Donald MacKinnon has said in Parliament

These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.

Energy

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "Last month, I attended an international conference on community energy storage in my constituency, at the Stornoway campus of UHI North, West and Hebrides…

Bluetongue Virus Serotype 3

Chamber meeting date: 9 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests, which shows that I have a crofting business. I also thank the minister for advance sight of his statement…

Programme for Government

Transport Committee meeting date: 9 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "I thank the cabinet secretary and his officials for joining us. I share the concerns that have been raised about lines of communication between CalMac and the Government…

Programme for Government (An Economy Fit for the Future)

Chamber meeting date: 8 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "I welcome the Scottish Government’s aspirations for Scotland’s economy, which the cabinet secretary has set out today…

Cairngorms Wildfire

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests, which shows that I am a member of the Fire Brigades Union…

Votes

How Donald MacKinnon has voted in Parliament

Find out how Donald MacKinnon has voted recently.

Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together

Motion ref. S7M-01084.1

Submitted by: Thomas Kerr, Glasgow, Reform UK . Date lodged: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Result 17 for, 102 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together

Motion ref. S7M-01084.4

Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Supported by: Carol Mochan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Result 24 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together

Motion ref. S7M-01084.3

Submitted by: Kate Nevens, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Supported by: Maggie Chapman
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Result 92 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together

Motion ref. S7M-01084

Submitted by: Simita Kumar, Edinburgh South Western, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 7, 2026

Supported by: Neil Gray, Kirsten Oswald, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Result 92 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Building Stronger, Safer and Inclusive Communities, Together

Motion ref. S7M-01084.2

Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Result 27 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motions

Motions made by Donald MacKinnon in Parliament

Find out what motions Donald MacKinnon has submitted recently.

Questions

Questions Donald MacKinnon has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S7W-03116

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that applicants to the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) do not face delays in receiving payments from the Basic Payment Scheme and that the Rural Payments and Inspections Division has the resources and capacity required to process applications timeously."

Question reference: S7W-03114

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason more than 1,200 Basic Payment Scheme claimants are reportedly still requiring Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) verification, and whether it considers that the current verification process operates effectively."

Question reference: S7W-03115

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS) verification cases remain outstanding, and how many of these involve applicants who (a) have already submitted all requested evidence and (b) are yet to do so, broken down by region."

Question reference: S7W-02914

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 18 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of confirmation by the company that MV Loch Portain will not return to service for the remainder of the summer 2026 timetable, what discussions it has had with CalMac Ferries Ltd regarding network resilience and resource allocation, and what contingency measures are being put in place to maintain services to…

Question reference: S7O-00156

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 26 August 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that air services in the Highlands and Islands meet the needs of communities."

Question reference: S7W-02049

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 24 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 21 August 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that over two-thirds of applicants to its Emergency Heating Oil Scheme in the Western Isles have had their applications refused."

Question reference: S7W-02050

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 24 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 21 August 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure households in need are able to access the Emergency Heating Oil Scheme."

Question reference: S7W-01857

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 20 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 August 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on identifying the two island communities that will pilot remote diagnostic technologies as set out in the National Islands Plan 2, what the consultation and decision-making around selection is, and when this pilot will start."

Question reference: S7W-01855

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 20 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 August 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the National Islands Plan 2, what progress has been made on the (a) Ferries Accessibility Standard and (b) new Islands Transport Accessibility Fund and the remit of this fund, and when both will be published"

Question reference: S7W-01856

Asked by: Donald MacKinnon, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 20 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on expanding the commitment of matched funding through the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership for Empty Homes Officer roles to the Western Isles."