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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 a member of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

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

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 member of the Keir Hardie Society.

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

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]

I am a member of the Co-operative Party.

I am a member of the GMB Union.

I am a member of the Scottish Labour History Society.

I am a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland.

I am a member of Unite the Union.

I am a member of the William Morris Society.

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]

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

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 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]

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."

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."

Chamber meeting date: 19 June 2025

Action Mesothelioma Day 2025

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests. I thank Marie McNair for bringing this motion to Parliament today…

Chamber meeting date: 19 June 2025

Alexander Dennis Ltd

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests. The Deputy First Minister’s statement is more a defence of the Government’s position than it is a plan of action to save these facilities and to save these workers’ jobs…

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 18 June 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Richard Leonard): "Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 20th meeting in 2025 of the Public Audit Committee. We have apologies from Jamie Greene and Stuart McMillan, but I am pleased to welcome Stephanie Callaghan, who is substituting for Stuart McMillan…

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-18080

Product Regulation and Metrology Bill - UK Legislation

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

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. 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. S6 SP Bill 49 Amendment 232

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

Result 88 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

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-38525

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 9 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid to GB Railfreight to undertake shunting duties at Carstairs for Caledonian Sleeper in each of the last two financial years."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04823

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to the consultation by Alexander Dennis on the future of its facilities in Falkirk and Larbert."

Answered by Richard Lochhead on 19 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04737

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had regarding its support for humanitarian assistance, in light of reports of the increasing number of deaths in Gaza."

Taken in the Chamber on 4 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04724

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how its policies to support Scottish culture and heritage ensure that the contribution of prominent figures, such as trade unionist, Michael McGahey, can be honoured."

Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37583

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when the current time charter of the MV Alfred for CalMac Ferries expires."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37330

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent by Scotland’s Railway in the first year of the Control Period 7 funding period."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37584

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost to date is of time chartering the MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries for deployment on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37582

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many timetabled services under the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract have been provided by the MV Alfred since 1 May 2023."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37331

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland’s Railway has experienced any delays in awarding contracts to suppliers in the last two years; if so, what the reasons were for any such delays, and whether any scheduled rail projects were delayed as a result."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 May 2025

Question ref. S6O-04676

Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery."

Taken in the Chamber on 21 May 2025

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