Scottish Labour
MSP for North East Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
Email: [email protected]
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6390
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Member
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Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
25 April 2023 - 25 September 2024
Substitute Member
25 April 2023 - 16 November 2023
Member
01 February 2023 - 25 April 2023
Member
22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Substitute Member
17 June 2021 - 01 February 2023
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 Mercedes Villalba. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
From 8 to 13 November 2025, I visited Ramallah, Palestine, to attend a congress to examine the rapid intensification of the illegal Israeli occupation, and strategies to challenge it in accordance with international law. The costs of £956 for travel and £378 for accommodation and expenses were met by Progressive International (Services) Ltd (of 71-75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ) which is an organisation that unites, organises and mobilises the world’s progressive forces. [Registered 20 November 2025]
From 27 May to 2 June 2022 I took part in an international delegation to Colombia to monitor the current state of trade union rights, human rights and the peace deal signed between the Colombian state and the FARC-EP in November 2016. The delegation was organised by the British-Irish organisation, Justice for Colombia (75 St John Street, London, EC1M 4NN), which campaigns in support of peace and human rights in Colombia. The costs, which were met by Justice for Colombia, were as follows: internal travel, hotels and food £900; logistical and organisational support £583; and international travel £862. [Registered 24 June 2022]
From 17 to 24 October 2023, I took part in the International Visitors Program for the 2023 General Elections of Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The program was organised by the Directorate for Electoral Cooperation and Assistance of the Ministry of the Interior of Argentina (Gascón 352 - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires) which manages issues pertaining to domestic politics such as immigration and co-ordination between the federal government and the governments of the provinces of Argentina. The costs, which were met by the Ministry, were as follows: internal travel, hotels and food £850; logistical and organisational support £600; and international travel £1,200. [Registered 14 November 2023]
From 10 to 12 June 2025 I visited Oslo to attend a roundtable discussion on the North Sea Energy Transition, with civil society representatives, union representatives and politicians from the UK and Norway. The costs of the visit, which were met by Oil Change UK (a research, communications and advocacy organisation working to end reliance on fossil fuels of 2nd Floor Regis House, 45 King William Street, London, United Kingdom, EC4R 9AN), were £300 for travel and £700 for accommodation and expenses. [Registered 2 July 2025]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
As a funded PhD student prior to the election, I received a monthly stipend of £1,273.75. I received the last stipend on 28 May 2021, but returned this to the university on 8 June 2021.
Member of Unite the Union.
Member of Living Rent tenants' union.
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 December 2023]
Member of ACORN tenants' union.
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 February 2026
6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"
Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026
6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"
Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026
6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"
Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::In a statement to the press, the Scottish Government said that it is“working closely with Wave Energy Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other partners to sustain operations while future alternative sources of funding are identified…
Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026
6. Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab): "::To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83 per cent of those voting in support of strike action and 90 per cent in favour of action short of a strike. (S6F-04709)"
Find out how Mercedes Villalba has voted recently.
Motion ref. S6M-20733
Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 26, 2026
Result 87 for, 0 against, 25 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20898.1
Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Result 51 for, 66 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Motion ref. S6M-20898
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Result 92 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20860
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Result 66 for, 29 against, 24 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP abstained
Agreed
Find out what motions Mercedes Villalba has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 2 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish publicly owned infrastructure, such as Prestwick or Wick John O' Groats airports, has been used by the US Airforce for the recent strikes on Iran."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employee recruitment and progression remains (a) based on merit and (b) unconstrained by proximity to work location."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the potential impact of its hybrid working and location policies on the geographical distribution of its employees."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, in determining its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees, what specific consideration has been given to (a) rural and island employment, (b) rural and island population retention, (c) rural and island sustainable development, (d) the Public Sector equality duty, (e) the Fairer Scotland Duty, (f) the…
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that its employees who live in rural and island communities have equitable access to (a) promotion, (b) redeployment and (c) career development opportunities."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, in determining its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees, whether (a) an assessment of the commuting impact on employees, (b) an assessment of the financial impact on employees and (c) an islands communities impact assessment was undertaken."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its long-term location policy and what factors will be considered in its development."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether an equality impact assessment of its hybrid working policy for Scottish Government employees was published after the hybrid working policy was determined, and if so, what the reason was for this."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 24 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 10 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the potential closure of the butchers in Inverurie, Donald Russell, when it last met with the affected (a) trade unions and (b) employees to discuss this."
Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 23 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2026
"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the outcome of the University of Aberdeen UCU ballot, which resulted in 83% of those voting in support of strike action and 90% in favour of action short of a strike."
See all of Mercedes Villalba's questions submitted in Parliament