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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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Katherine Sangster

Scottish Labour

MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East (Region)

About Katherine Sangster

Contact details

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish Labour
MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East (Region)
07 May 2026 to present

Committees

Katherine Sangster is a member of 1 committee

Education and Gaelic Committee

Deputy Convener

Cross-party groups

Katherine Sangster is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Katherine Sangster does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Katherine Sangster has 1 party role

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Katherine Sangster has had the following roles in Parliament

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

02 September 2026 to 03 November 2026

Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Substitute Member

11 June 2026 to 23 June 2026

Education and Gaelic Committee

Member

Register of interests

Katherine Sangster'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 Katherine Sangster. The date of their initial statement was 10 June 2026.

Remuneration and related undertaking

Until 8 May 2026, when I resigned, I was a Director at The Fabian Society, a think tank (of 61 Petty France, Westminster, London, SW1H 9EU). I worked 8 hours per week and received remuneration of between £10,001 and £15,000 per annum. I received a final salary payment of £425.67 on 19 May 2026.

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

No registrable interests.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What Katherine Sangster 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.

Safeguarding and Protecting Children

Chamber meeting date: 5 November 2026

Katherine Sangster (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab): "The Government and survivors have our full support in ensuring that there is robust scrutiny of the failures to protect our children and young people…

Safeguarding and Protecting Children

Chamber meeting date: 5 November 2026

Katherine Sangster (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab): "The Government and survivors have our full support in ensuring that there is robust scrutiny of the failures to protect our children and young people…

“Shaping the Future: Strengthening Scotland’s Education System Through Empowered Schools”

Chamber meeting date: 4 November 2026

Katherine Sangster (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab): "In the report, the argument is made that funding for school education is the most powerful way for our country to invest in our future…

Support for Pupils with Persistent Absence

Education and Gaelic Committee meeting date: 3 November 2026

Katherine Sangster (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab): "I have a couple of follow-up questions, the first of which is for Ms Waggott.In your first answer, you highlighted not just the reasons for pupils not going to school but the reasons for parents not being able to get them to school…

Decision Time

Chamber meeting date: 29 October 2026

Katherine Sangster (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the voting system. I would have voted yes."

Votes

How Katherine Sangster has voted in Parliament

Find out how Katherine Sangster has voted recently.

Strengthening Scotland’s Bus Network

Motion ref. S7M-01881

Submitted by: Stephen Flynn, Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Supported by: Tom Arthur
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 5, 2026

Result 84 for, 33 against, 0 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Strengthening Scotland’s Bus Network

Motion ref. S7M-01881.3

Submitted by: Willie Rennie, Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 5, 2026

Result 47 for, 69 against, 0 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Strengthening Scotland’s Bus Network

Motion ref. S7M-01881.5

Submitted by: Tim Eagle, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Supported by: Stephen Kerr
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 5, 2026

Result 24 for, 92 against, 0 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Strengthening Scotland’s Bus Network

Motion ref. S7M-01881.2

Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 5, 2026

Result 84 for, 34 against, 0 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Strengthening Scotland’s Bus Network

Motion ref. S7M-01881.1

Submitted by: Graham Simpson, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 5, 2026

Result 29 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motions

Motions made by Katherine Sangster in Parliament

Find out what motions Katherine Sangster has submitted recently.

Questions

Questions Katherine Sangster has asked

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

Question reference: S7W-04355

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 October 2026

Current Status: Answered by Alyn Smith on 3 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the mental health of university students, in light of the 2021 Thriving Learners survey, which indicated that 73…

Question reference: S7O-00392

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 21 October 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of projected population growth on its decisions regarding the allocation of police resources."

Question reference: S7W-04354

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to establish emergency mental health care services for young people and students."

Question reference: S7O-00343

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 30 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the results of the Scottish Household Survey 2025 regarding childcare."

Question reference: S7O-00300

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 17 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it consulted MSP staff trade unions on the contents of the employer pledge that MSPs were asked to sign up to."

Question reference: S7W-02897

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to introducing breakfast clubs across all special schools from August 2027."

Question reference: S7O-00243

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that students who are enrolled in, but not regularly attending college courses, are accurately classified in statistics on young people who are not in education, employment or training."

Question reference: S7W-01283

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 24 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 21 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is being given to ensuring that local authorities that have already implemented bans on mobile phones in schools do not incur additional costs when any national guidance is introduced."

Question reference: S7W-01294

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 24 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 14 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding will be allocated per pupil to support the delivery of universal breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools."

Question reference: S7W-01276

Asked by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 24 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 14 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that social workers are taking children home to ensure their safety due to a lack of alternative accommodation, (a) what action it it taking and (b) how it will ensure that this does not become normal practice"