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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Russell Findlay

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for West Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day

About Russell Findlay

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6975
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Russell is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Russell is a member of 4 cross-party groups

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

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Russell does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Russell has 1 party role

Party Leader

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Previous roles

Russell has had 5 previous roles

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

22 June 2021 - 10 October 2024

Criminal Justice Committee

Deputy Convener

28 June 2023 - 27 September 2024

Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Community Safety

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

22 September 2021 - 08 September 2022

Health Social Care and Sport Committee

Substitute Member

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Criminal Justice Committee

Member

Register of interests

Russell'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 Russell Findlay. The date of their initial statement was 10 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

On 5 August 2024 I received a donation of £2,000 to my leadership campaign from Dr Robert Kilgour, a private individual. I established that the donation was from a permissible donor and accepted it on 7 August 2024. [Registered 30 August 2024]

On 6 August 2024 I received a donation of £2,000 to my leadership campaign from Mr John Watt, a private individual. I established that the donation was from a permissible donor and accepted it on 8 August 2024. [Registered 2 September 2024]

On 5 September 2024 I received a donation of £25,000 to my leadership campaign from Mr Alasdair Locke, a private individual. I established that the donation was from a permissible donor and accepted it on 5 September 2024. [Registered 26 September 2024]

On 5 August 2024 I received a donation of £2,000 to my leadership campaign from Dr Mary Stewart Macklin, a private individual. I established that the donation was from a permissible donor and accepted it on 7 August 2024. [Registered 30 August 2024]

On Sunday 30 April 2023, I attended the Scottish FA Cup semi-final at Hampden Park, Glasgow as a guest of MFGC Holdings Ltd (of 87 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 2AW). The approximate total value of a match ticket and hospitality I received was £390. [Registered 5 May 2023]

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

On 11 February 2023 I was a guest of NatWest Group at the Scotland vs. Wales Six Nations rugby match. The value of the ticket was £122 and hospitality £40. [Registered 21 February 2023]

Until 19 August 2025, I was a member of the National Union of Journalists. [Amended interest 4 September 2025; Ceased interest 4 September 2025]

Recent Activity

What was said

What Russell Findlay 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.

Benefit Spending

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

1. Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con): "The safety net of social security is something that we all value, but Scotland’s towering benefits bill stands at around £7 billion a year and is due to reach almost £10 billion by the end of the decade…

Benefit Spending

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

1. Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con): "The safety net of social security is something that we all value, but Scotland’s towering benefits bill stands at around £7 billion a year and is due to reach almost £10 billion by the end of the decade…

Benefit Spending

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

1. Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con): "The safety net of social security is something that we all value, but Scotland’s towering benefits bill stands at around £7 billion a year and is due to reach almost £10 billion by the end of the decade…

Benefit Spending

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

1. Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con): "The safety net of social security is something that we all value, but Scotland’s towering benefits bill stands at around £7 billion a year and is due to reach almost £10 billion by the end of the decade…

Benefit Spending

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026

1. Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con): "The safety net of social security is something that we all value, but Scotland’s towering benefits bill stands at around £7 billion a year and is due to reach almost £10 billion by the end of the decade…

Votes

How Russell Findlay has voted in Parliament

Find out how Russell Findlay has voted recently.

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20611.1

Submitted by: Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern, Independent. Date lodged: Thursday, January 29, 2026

Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Sharon Dowey, Fergus Ewing, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Michelle Thomson, Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 29, 2026

Result 28 for, 83 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill

Motion ref. S6M-20549

Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 26, 2026

Supported by: Jim Fairlie, Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 29, 2026

Result 90 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill

Motion ref. S6M-20527

Submitted by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Thursday, January 22, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 29, 2026

Result 69 for, 27 against, 19 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 59 Amendment 179

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Result 81 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 59 Amendment 178

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Result 25 for, 81 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Russell Findlay has asked

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

Question reference: S6W-43392

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 28 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 11 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any policy that it (a) is currently developing and (b) has developed in relation to the use of AI by the civil service in all branches of devolved government, including all NHS boards, the Scottish Prison Service, Police Scotland and any other public bodies that are accountable to…

Question reference: S6W-43390

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 28 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 11 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41854 by Angela Constance on 25 November 2025, whether it will provide an update on the status of (a) its commitment, which was made in February 2021, to hold an inquiry into the malicious prosecutions relating to Rangers Football Club and (b) all related investigations and…

Question reference: S6W-43394

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 28 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 11 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any engagement that it (a) has undertaken and (b) is currently undertaking with (i) the UK Government and (ii) any other administration to learn more about the anticipated opportunities and risks resulting from AI in the provision of public services."

Question reference: S6W-43393

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 28 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 11 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any work that it (a) has done and (b) is currently doing to advise or support the business community in relation to the anticipated opportunities and risks resulting from AI."

Question reference: S6W-43391

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 28 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 11 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of any work that it (a) has done and (b) is currently doing to assess how it plans to utilise AI in relation to the delivery of all devolved public services, including the NHS, police service, prison service, transport network, education system and local authorities."

Question reference: S6F-04613

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 26 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Question reference: S6F-04591

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 19 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 January 2026

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Question reference: S6F-04574

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 12 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 January 2026

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Question reference: S6F-04556

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 5 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2026

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Question reference: S6F-04534

Asked by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 15 December 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2025

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

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