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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

Richard is a member of 1 committee

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 8 previous roles

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

05 December 2024 - 30 September 2025

SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee

Member

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 Friends of the Earth Scotland.

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 a member of the GMB Union.

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 William Morris Society.

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

I am a member of Unite the Union.

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 Keir Hardie 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]

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

I am a member of the Scottish Labour History Society.

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 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]

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

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.

Mossmorran (Just Transition Fund)

Chamber meeting date: 18 February 2026

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "Hear, hear."

Mossmorran (Just Transition Fund)

Chamber meeting date: 18 February 2026

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "Hear, hear."

Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Chamber meeting date: 17 February 2026

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "It was the great French philosopher and civil rights campaigner Voltaire who warned:“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”,and that is the crime that we are being invited to commit in the Parliament this afternoon…

Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Chamber meeting date: 17 February 2026

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "It was the great French philosopher and civil rights campaigner Voltaire who warned:“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”,and that is the crime that we are being invited to commit in the Parliament this afternoon…

Freedom of Information Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Chamber meeting date: 17 February 2026

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "It was the great French philosopher and civil rights campaigner Voltaire who warned:“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”,and that is the crime that we are being invited to commit in the Parliament this afternoon…

Votes

How Richard Leonard has voted in Parliament

Find out how Richard Leonard has voted recently.

Scottish Rate Resolution

Motion ref. S6M-20844

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 19, 2026

Result 93 for, 29 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20826.1

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, 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, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 51 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Approval of SSI

Motion ref. S6M-20827

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 112 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

A Just Transition Fund for Mossmorran

Motion ref. S6M-20820.2

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 93 for, 28 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Ending US Military Use of Scottish Airports

Motion ref. S6M-20819.3

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 89 for, 7 against, 27 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

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 reference: S6W-43855

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 20 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of severe weather conditions in Scotland on (a) port infrastructure and (b) the road network supporting private ferry services operated between Scotland and Northern Ireland, since 1 November 2025 to date, and whether it will raise these matters with its counterparts in the UK…

Question reference: S6W-43857

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the (a) delays to and (b) cancellations of (i) ScotRail and (ii) Caledonian Sleeper services as a result of severe weather conditions since 1 November 2025 to date."

Question reference: S6W-43856

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to monitor the effect of recent severe weather conditions on the resilience of Scotland’s rail infrastructure, and when it last met officials from Network Rail Scotland to discuss these matters."

Question reference: S6W-43859

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of the (a) delays to and (b) cancellations of (i) Western Ferries and (ii) Pentland Ferries services as a result of severe weather conditions since 1 November 2025 to date."

Question reference: S6W-43858

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide a list of the (a) delays to and (b) cancellations of (i) CalMac Ferries, (ii) Serco NorthLink Ferries and (iii) Orkney Ferries services as a result of severe weather conditions since 1 November 2025 to date."

Question reference: S6W-43791

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what rights patients, their families and carers currently have to secure an urgent review when they consider that a patient’s condition is deteriorating and their concerns are not being acted upon."

Question reference: S6W-43792

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce interim national safeguards to empower healthcare staff as well as patients, their families and carers, to trigger an urgent clinical review where there are concerns that a patient’s condition is deteriorating, pending the recommendations of the short-term working group established to…

Question reference: S6W-43790

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what specific lessons learnt, if any, it has taken from the pilot of Martha’s Rule initiative across 143 hospital sites in NHS England, and for what reason it considers it necessary to duplicate the pilot process prior to introducing a similar initiative in Scotland."

Question reference: S6O-05576

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to ensure that public transport workers can go to work without the fear of assault."

Question reference: S6W-43658

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 11 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take steps to establish the number of (a) Network Rail Scotland full-time equivalent employees and (b) Network Rail Scotland supply chain contractors allocated to drainage works on track infrastructure in Scotland since 2024 to date."