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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Richard Leonard

Scottish Labour

MSP for Central Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day

About Richard Leonard

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6465
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Richard is a member of 4 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Industrial Communities

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nuclear Disarmament

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Older People, Age and Ageing

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on WASPI

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Richard has 2 parliamentary and government roles

Conveners Group

Member

Scottish Commission For Public Audit

Member

Party Roles

Richard does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Richard has had 7 previous roles

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

17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021

Public Audit Committee

Member

04 October 2018 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Economy

Scottish Labour

02 September 2019 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Jobs and Fair Work

Scottish Labour

18 November 2017 - 14 January 2021

Party Leader

Scottish Labour

28 June 2016 - 09 January 2018

Social Security Committee

Substitute Member

25 May 2016 - 19 December 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on the Economy

Scottish Labour

08 June 2016 - 23 November 2017

Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee

Member

Register of interests

Richard'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 Richard Leonard. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

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 am the Convener of the RMT Scottish Parliamentary Group. [Registered 22 June 2021]

I am a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland.

On 15 February 2024 I accepted two tickets by invitation from Scottish Opera for a performance of Marx In London! at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. The value of the tickets and associated hospitality was £203. [Registered 23 February 2024]

I am a member of the William Morris Society.

I am a member of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

On Saturday 26 November 2022 I attended and spoke at a conference on Community Wealth Building in Preston. This event was sponsored by the Communication Workers Union (a trade union) which provided bed and breakfast accommodation in the Holiday Inn Preston on Friday 25 November 2022. The value of the hospitality was £120. [Registered 16 January 2023, Amended interest 20 January 2023]

I am Convenor of the PFA Scotland Parliamentary Interest Group. [Registered 11 November 2021]

I am a member of the GMB Union.

I am a member of Unite the Union.

On 4 May 2025 I attended the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) annual awards ceremony as a guest of the PFA. The value of the hospitality was £51. [Registered 15 May 2025]

I am a friend of the Grassic Gibbon Centre. [Registered 4 October 2024]

On Sunday 5 May 2024 I attended the Professional Footballers Association Scotland (PFAS) annual awards ceremony as a guest of the PFAS. The value of the hospitality was £60. [Registered 10 May 2024]

On 14th of May 2023 I attended the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Scotland Annual Dinner as a guest of the PFA. The value of the dinner was £50. [Registered 27 July 2023]

I am a member of the Keir Hardie Society.

Expenses incurred in the constituency campaign for the Scottish Parliament Election of 6 May 2021 were met by Airdrie and Shotts Constituency Labour Party (A&S CLP). To assist in this campaign A&S CLP received, from permissible sources, the following donations: £2,000 from Unite the Union, a trade union (of John Smith House, 145/165 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4RZ). £1,000 from CWU, a trade union (of 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1RX). £250 from ASLEF, a trade union (of 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4NN). £450 from UNISON Scotland a trade union (of 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX). £100 from TSSA, a trade union (of 2nd floor, 17 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4SQ). £500 from the RMT, a trade union (of Unity House. 39 Chalton Street. London NW1 1JD).

On Sunday 1 May 2022 I attended the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) annual awards ceremony as a guest of the PFA. The value of the hospitality was £50. [Registered 16 July 2022]

I am a member of the Co-operative Party.

On 22 June 2025 I was presented with an inscribed decanter by the RMT trade union at their Annual General Meeting in Glasgow. The value of the decanter was approximately £100. [Registered 28 July 2025]

I am a member of the Scottish Labour History Society.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Richard Leonard 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.

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2025

Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes."

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 25 June 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Richard Leonard): "Good morning. I welcome everybody to the 21st meeting in 2025 of the Public Audit Committee. Agenda item 1 is for the committee to decide whether to take items 3, 4 and 5 in private. Do we agree to take those items in private…

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 25 June 2025

“Scottish National Investment Bank”

The Convener: "The second item on our agenda is further consideration of the Auditor General for Scotland’s report on the Scottish National Investment Bank. I am pleased to welcome our two witnesses…

Chamber meeting date: 24 June 2025

Education (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. My app would not work. I would have voted yes."

Meeting of the Commission meeting date: 23 June 2025

Audit Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31 March 2025 and Auditor’s Report on the Accounts

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "Good morning. I want to continue to look at your “year in figures” table and turn attention to the fees and expenses that are paid to external firms…

Votes

How Richard Leonard has voted in Parliament

Find out how Richard Leonard has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-18081

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Natalie Don-Innes, Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Supported by: Graeme Dey, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025

Result 87 for, 0 against, 28 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18075

Employment Rights Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 23, 2025

Supported by: Tom Arthur, Kate Forbes
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025

Result 88 for, 1 against, 27 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18076

Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 23, 2025

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025

Result 86 for, 0 against, 28 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18080

Product Regulation and Metrology Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Supported by: Kate Forbes
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025

Result 80 for, 0 against, 34 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 49 Amendment 241

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Result 47 for, 69 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Richard Leonard has asked

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

Question ref. S6W-39984

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the specifications in the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract to be directly awarded to CalMac are discussed with the recognised trade unions before 1 October 2025."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39985

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects discussions to begin between CalMac Ferries Ltd and the recognised trade unions regarding (a) commercial crewing levels and (b) route-specific sea trials for the MV (i) Isle of Islay, (ii) Glen Rosa, (iii) Loch Indaal, (iv) Lochmor and (v) Claymore."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39977

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current expected in-service date for MV (a) Isle of Islay, (b) Glen Rosa, (c) Loch Indaal, (d) Lochmor and (e) Claymore, and when this was last discussed with CalMac Ferries Ltd."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39980

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it expects the MV Caledonian Isles to return to service on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, and whether it will provide an update on the progress of the dry dock repair of the vessel."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39983

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the (a) duration and (b) value of (i) scheduled and (ii) unscheduled dry dock work carried out on CMAL-owned vessels at Inchgreen dry dock facility since 1 January 2015."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39978

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) CalMac Ferries Ltd and (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency regarding the reported passenger safety incident on the MV Alfred on 16 August 2025."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39982

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the current full-time equivalent staffing commitment is at (a) Transport Scotland and (b) Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for the Ardrossan Harbour Redevelopment Project."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39979

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to review the charter agreement with Pentland Ferries for the MV Alfred to provide contracted Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services from Troon to Brodick, before the current agreement expires."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39981

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the negotiations to bring Ardrossan harbour into public ownership with the board of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd."

Answer expected on 16 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-39499

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government who will carry out the ScotRail business functions, including finance, payroll and customer experience, which are currently outsourced inhouse to Solvd, once the Solvd contract comes to an end."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 August 2025

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