Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
Email: [email protected]
Website: martinwhitfieldmsp.com
X (previously known as Twitter): @_MWhitfield
Facebook: Martin's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5827
Text relay calls welcome.
Substitute Member
Member
Member
Member
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
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 Martin Whitfield. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
Until 6 May 2021, I was employed by East Lothian Council (of John Muir House, Brewery Park, Haddington, East Lothian EH41 3HA) as a primary teacher. I worked approximately 35 hours a week and received remuneration of between £40,001 and £45,000 per annum.
On 5 December 2023 and on 12 December 2024 I received food hampers valued at approximately £150 and £185 respectively from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 18 December 2024]
On Saturday 5 February 2022 I attended a rugby match at Murrayfield, as a guest of BT Group Plc (a telecommunications company of BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ). The value of the gift amounted to £325 for both the ticket and hospitality. [Registered 9 February 2022]
On 23 November 2023 I attended the Herald Scottish Politician of The Year Awards as a guest of Newsquest Media Group LTD (publisher of newspaper of Loudwater Mill, Station Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 9TY) at Prestonfield Hotel in Edinburgh. The gift was to me as an individual and that the value including VAT was £360. [Registered 12 December 2023]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
I was paid £150 from Ipsos MORI for their Annual Survey of MSPs on 22 December 2021. I donated this fee to charity. [Registered 22 December 2021]
I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]
I am a Member of EIS.
I am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.
On 5 December 2023 I received a gift of a food hamper valued at approximately £150 from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 12 December 2023]
I was paid £75 by Savanta on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
Between 12 June and 19 June 2022 I travelled to Jersey to head an Electoral Observation Mission on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR). The purpose of the visit was to observe the Island election as BIMR did in 2018. An initial report was published at the end of the visit with a full report being prepared with the mission's observations and recommendations. The total cost of the visit, met by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, was £3,000. [Registered 3 August 2022]
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I am a Trustee and Chair of the Burke-Veitch Scholarship which provides funds to allow children / young people to attend drama school. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
I received a bottle of whisky from the Scotch Whisky Association, the nominal value for the COP26 Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to be £30, although it is not for commercial sale. [Registered 22 December 2021]
On the 27 April 2022, I attended the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2022, as a guest of Young Scot. The hospitality had a value of £150. [Registered 4 May 2022]
On 26 February 2022 I was the guest of NatWest Group at Scotland France 6 Nations Rugby Game. The value of the gift was ticket valued at £111.50 and hospitality of £35.00. The combined value of this gift and hospitality is below the threshold for registration in the Gifts category. [Registered 2 March 2022]
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.
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Further to the answers that the cabinet secretary has already given, which I am grateful for, would not national guidance on the definition of “appropriate” in section 27 of the 1995 act resolve some of the challenges, because, in essence, there is a postcode lottery as to what “appropriate” means?"
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I will speak on behalf of Scottish Labour to various elements of the LCM. I compliment both committees that were involved in this matter—I appreciate the challenge in being able to scrutinise legislative consent memorandums…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is always a pleasure to follow Stephen Kerr, even when his oration—we might call it a salad of linguistic excitement—on the bill that is ploughing its way through the Westminster houses might lead to both entertainment and concern…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "This has been a fascinating debate on the legislative consent motion because, in quite amicable terms, it has highlighted one of the challenges that this Parliament and the Scottish Government have faced regarding legislative consent motions…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the minister, the committee and its convener, Clare Haughey, for their contributions to the debate…
Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 1, 2025
Supported by: Craig Hoy
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Result 27 for, 90 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Anas Sarwar, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, September 1, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Result 19 for, 98 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Ross Greer, West Scotland, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 1, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Result 8 for, 111 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, September 1, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Result 50 for, 68 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 1, 2025
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Ivan McKee, Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Result 66 for, 52 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Find out what motions Martin Whitfield has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 August 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will deliver on its commitments in The Promise, in light of the publication, Education Outcomes for Looked After Children 2023/24, showing a decline in most key educational outcomes."
Taken in the Chamber on 4 September 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employees do not need to leave their jobs as a result of the closure of the Victoria Quay nursery."
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent any staff at the Victoria Quay nursery from being made redundant."
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware that the Victoria Quay nursery may be at risk of closure, and when this was communicated to parents."
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted with parents prior to the decision to close the Victoria Quay nursery."
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it decided to initiate a retendering process for the Victoria Quay nursery."
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Public and Commercial Services Union regarding the closure of the Victoria Quay nursery."
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 12 August 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 August 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Transport last met with Rail Action Group, East of Scotland."
Answer expected on 8 September 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 9 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how support staff were consulted in the development of the guidance, Fostering a positive, inclusive and safe school environment, published in June 2025."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 August 2025
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work to further the case for Scottish independence, what engagement it has had with foreign investors regarding access to the UK market in an independent Scotland, and whether it has received representations from any foreign investors expressing concerns on this matter."
Answered by Angus Robertson on 26 June 2025
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament