Skip to main content
Loading…
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
Image description

Paul Sweeney

Scottish Labour

MSP for Glasgow (Region)


Paul Sweeney is Convener of the Public Petitions Committee

About Paul Sweeney

Contact details

Contact online

Website: pauljsweeney.com

X (previously known as Twitter): @x.com/PaulJSweeney

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

Phone: 0131 348 6388
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Brunswick House
51 Wilson Street
Glasgow
G1 1UZ

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish Labour
MSP for Glasgow (Region)
06 May 2021 to present

Committees

Paul Sweeney is a member of 3 committees

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee

Substitute Member

Public Petitions Committee

Convener

Cross-party groups

Paul Sweeney is a member of 4 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Armed Forces and Veterans

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Paul Sweeney has 1 parliamentary and government role

Conveners Group

Member

Party Roles

Paul Sweeney has 1 party role

Shadow Minister for Business and Fair Work and Veterans

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Paul Sweeney has had the following roles in Parliament

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

10 April 2023 to 08 April 2026

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Mental Health

Scottish Labour

10 April 2023 to 08 April 2026

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Veterans

Scottish Labour

02 May 2023 to 08 April 2026

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Deputy Convener

31 January 2023 to 08 April 2026

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Substitute Member

19 January 2023 to 02 May 2023

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Member

22 September 2021 to 25 April 2023

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Substitute Member

31 May 2021 to 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Employment

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 to 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Finance

Scottish Labour

17 June 2021 to 19 January 2023

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Member

17 June 2021 to 19 January 2023

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

Register of interests

Paul Sweeney'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 Paul Sweeney. The date of their initial statement was 03 June 2026.

Remuneration and related undertaking

I previously worked as an Operations Manager for BAE Systems – Naval Ships (a shipbuilding company of South Street, Scotstoun, Glasgow G14 0XN). I worked full time and my salary was between £30,001 and £35,000. I resigned from the company in September 2015 but I am registering this interest on the basis of the prejudice test having been met.

Gifts

On 22 August 2024 I and a member of my staff were guests of the Royal Navy (HM Naval Base Clyde, Helensburgh, G84 8HL) for dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia and then at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality was £1,520.

On 13 August 2025, I and a member of my staff were guests of the Royal Navy (HM Naval Base Clyde, Helensburgh, G84 8HL) for dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia and then at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality was £1,574.

On 19 August 2026, I was a guest of Babcock International Group for private dining at Cannonball Restaurant and Bar then attending the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The combined value of the dinner and hospitality ticket was £430. The cost was borne by Babcock International Group (33 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1QX), and the nature of this business is British aerospace, defence, and nuclear engineering services.

Overseas visits

From 25 July to 8 August 2026, I visited the United States of America as a participant in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. I participated in this two-week professional exchange program with a range of other participants from continental Europe, considering the challenge of tackling substance misuse. The costs of travel were $5,200 USD and other expenses were $14,725 USD (for a total of $ 19,925, equivalent to £14,615.98 at the closing exchange rate on 20 August 2026) and were met by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State (of 2201 C St., NW Washington, DC 20520, United States of America), an organisation that aims to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through exchange programmes

From 28 July 2019 and 2 August 2019, when I was a Member of the UK Parliament, I visited Beijing and Jinan, China, to participate in the 2019 Young Leaders Roundtable and to build UK-China understanding and partnership on environment and climate change issues. The costs of the visit were £1,586.50 for international flights, £292.74 for accommodation and £215.19 for transport. The costs were met by (a) The Great Britain China Centre (a UK Government non-departmental public body of 15 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London SW1X 8PS) with sponsorship from Prudential Plc and China International Capital Corporation (investment banks); and (b) the All-China Youth Federation (a Chinese Government Youth Organisation of 10 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing).

From 15-25 May 2023 I visited New Dehli, Agra, and Ladakh in India to participate in the Generation Next Democracy Network Programme as part of the country’s G20 celebrations. This programme for an international delegation of 38 delegates included tours and introductions to important democratic institutions in India, meetings with elected officials and cultural experiences. The purpose was to educate those nominated by Consulates in their home countries about India’s democratic structures and culture. The costs of the visit were £989 for international flights, £1,613 for accommodation, £558 for domestic flights, and £200 for hospitality. The costs were met by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) (An agency of the Indian Government, at Azad Bhawan Rd, IP Estate, New Delhi, Delhi 110002). The Indian Council for Cultural Relations is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India involved in India's global cultural relations through cultural exchange with other countries.

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests.

Heritable property

No registrable interests.

Interest in shares

No registrable interests.

Voluntary

I am a Member of the Campaign for Socialism.

I am a Member of the Co-operative Party.

I am a Member of Open Labour.

I am a member of the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust.

I am a Member of Unite the Union.

I am a Trustee and Director of the Glasgow City Heritage Trust.

I am a Trustee of Beatroute Arts.

I am a trustee of the Courtyard Pantry Enterprise (SC051688).

I am a Chair and Trustee of the Springburn Winter Gardens Trust.

As of 28 August 2025, I am a co-opted committee member of Reidvale Housing Association. The role is unremunerated.

I am a Member of the Co-operative Party's National Executive Committee.

I am a Member of the Fabian Society.

I am a Member of the Open Labour Executive Committee.

I am a trustee of The Egyptian Halls SCIO (administered by the Scottish Civic Trust).

I am a Member of GMB Union.

I am a Director and Council Member of the Institution of Engineers in Scotland.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What Paul Sweeney 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.

Hyperscale AI Data Centres

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab): "I welcome the opportunity to contribute on the critical issue that is being debated…

Hyperscale AI Data Centres

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab): "I welcome the opportunity to contribute on the critical issue that is being debated…

Energy

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2026

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab): "As we draw the debate to a close, I want to reflect on a shared frustration that we have heard from members across the chamber about the industrial opportunities that Scotland has already let slip through our fingers…

Queen’s Park Glasshouse

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2026

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab): "I thank Holly Bruce, the member for Glasgow Southside, for lodging this members’ business debate motion…

Justice for Megrahi (PE1370)

Public Petitions Committee meeting date: 10 September 2026

The Convener: "The next item on our agenda is consideration of continued petitions. All the petitions included in this agenda item have been carried over from the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee of session 6…

Votes

How Paul Sweeney has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul Sweeney has voted recently.

Preventing Violence Against Women for an Equally Safe Scotland

Motion ref. S7M-01163.3

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 14, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Result 26 for, 78 against, 15 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Preventing Violence Against Women for an Equally Safe Scotland

Motion ref. S7M-01163.2

Submitted by: Amanda Lindsay, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK . Date lodged: Monday, September 14, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 15, 2026

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

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Scotland’s Energy Opportunity

Motion ref. S7M-01114.2

Submitted by: Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Edinburgh Northern, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 10, 2026

Result 91 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Scotland’s Energy Opportunity

Motion ref. S7M-01114

Submitted by: Stephen Gethins, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 10, 2026

Result 90 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Scotland’s Energy Opportunity

Motion ref. S7M-01114.1

Submitted by: Kristopher Leask, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 10, 2026

Result 83 for, 24 against, 8 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

Motions made by Paul Sweeney in Parliament

Find out what motions Paul Sweeney has submitted recently.

Questions

Questions Paul Sweeney has asked

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

Question reference: S7W-03344

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the extent of any historical contamination and other environmental liabilities at Clydebridge and who would meet remedial costs in the event of a sale, closure or change of use."

Question reference: S7W-03337

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a dedicated and long-term capital fund to address the growing number of historic church closures across Scotland, and what steps it is taking to ensure that funding for places of worship does not reduce the grant allocations available for other built environment and heritage projects…

Question reference: S7W-03347

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last visited Dalzell, what observation were made during the visit, and whether they will make a statement to Parliament on the future of steel plate production in Scotland before the October 2026 recess."

Question reference: S7W-03340

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its latest contingency analysis relating to Dalzell and Clydebridge to enable Parliament to scrutinise the options being considered."

Question reference: S7W-03339

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what specific support or interim financial relief it will provide to congregations and dioceses experiencing significant VAT shortfalls on active conservation projects following the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, including Carntyne and Cranhill Parish Church and listed churches within the…

Question reference: S7W-03342

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Dalzell’s role in UK and Scottish defence, shipbuilding and infrastructure supply chains, and what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the designation of the mill as a public-interest steel asset under the Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Act 2026."

Question reference: S7W-03345

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the suitability of GFG Alliance as the long-term owner of Scotland’s last plate mill, and what evidence underpins its position."

Question reference: S7W-03346

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the economic impact on Motherwell, Cambuslang and the wider Lanarkshire supply chain should the Dalzell plate mill close permanently."

Question reference: S7W-03338

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the comparative level of funding available to listed places of worship in Scotland through the £1 million Historic Environment Scotland pilot scheme and the £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund established in England, and whether any Barnett consequentials arising from…

Question reference: S7W-03343

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings ministers have had with (a) GFG Alliance, (b) community union representatives and (c) the UK Government regarding Dalzell and Clydebridge since 1 January 2026, including dates, attendees and outcomes of those meetings."