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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.

Creative Economy

Chamber meeting date: 24 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "I welcome this opportunity to debate Scotland’s creative economy, and I am pleased that the Government’s motion recognises the significant contribution that is made by Scotland’s languages—Gaelic, in particular…

Rural Support Plan

Chamber meeting date: 23 September 2026

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

Flood Resilience

Chamber meeting date: 23 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests, in that I am a shareholder in a common grazing, with an interest in peatland restoration.I welcome much of the Government’s motion and what the cabinet secretary has said…

Regional Transport Authorities

Transport Committee meeting date: 23 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "Thank you, convener, and thank you to the panel members for joining us this morning.I have some questions for Moraig Lyall on rural and island connectivity…

Interests

Climate Action Committee meeting date: 17 September 2026

Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab): "I draw the committee’s attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I run a crofting business and I am a shareholder in a common grazing that has interests in peatland restoration."

Votes

How Donald MacKinnon has voted in Parliament

Find out how Donald MacKinnon has voted recently.

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.2

Submitted by: Q Manivannan, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 99 for, 16 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.4

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 40 for, 65 against, 7 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304

Submitted by: Màiri McAllan, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Supported by: Siobhian Brown, Martyn Day, Alyn Smith
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 89 for, 22 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.3

Submitted by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 46 for, 53 against, 15 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.1

Submitted by: David Kirkwood, South Scotland, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 15 for, 93 against, 7 abstained, 14 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: S7O-00309

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that housing policy supports population retention and growth in the Western Isles, in light of concerns reportedly raised by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar regarding barriers to housing delivery."

Question reference: S7W-03114

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

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 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-03116

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

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 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-03115

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

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 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: Answered by Stephen Flynn 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"