Scottish National Party
MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Constituency) 2016 - present day
Email: [email protected]
Website: benmacpherson.scot/home
X (previously known as Twitter): @BenMacpherson
Facebook: Ben's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.
34 Constitution Street
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6RS
Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Scottish Government
Find out more about the Cabinet and Ministers at the Scottish Government website.
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
11 September 2024 - 25 September 2025
Substitute Member
12 December 2024 - 23 September 2025
Convener
18 June 2024 - 22 September 2025
Member
12 December 2024 - 22 September 2025
Member
05 December 2024 - 12 December 2024
Member
05 September 2023 - 11 September 2024
Deputy Convener
05 September 2023 - 17 June 2024
Member
26 April 2023 - 05 September 2023
Deputy Convener
29 June 2023 - 05 September 2023
Member
18 April 2023 - 29 June 2023
Member
18 April 2023 - 29 June 2023
Substitute Member
18 April 2023 - 26 April 2023
Member
19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023
Scottish Government
21 December 2020 - 19 May 2021
Scottish Government
17 February 2020 - 21 December 2020
Scottish Government
28 June 2018 - 17 February 2020
Scottish Government
14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Scottish Government
14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Scottish Government
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Member
06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Member
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 Ben Macpherson. The date of their initial statement was 24 May 2021.
No registrable interests
On 8 August 2025 myself and a guest (a founder of a local charity) attended the Oasis concert at Murrayfield as hospitality guests of Scottish Gas (owned by Centrica plc, an energy company registered in England and Wales at Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 5GD), who are a significant employer in my constituency. The combined value of the two tickets was £1200 including VAT. [Registered 11 August 2025]
On 4 February 2017 myself and a guest attended the Scotland v Ireland match at Murrayfield as hospitality guests of BT Scotland (a telecommunications company of BT Group plc, BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AJ). The combined value of the two tickets was £1390 + VAT.
From 3 to 25 February 2024 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 particular three week professional exchange program with a range of other participants from Europe and Asia, considering various global challenges. The costs of travel, accommodation, meals and other occasional expenses were $9,284 USD (equivalent to £7339, at the closing exchange rate on 29 February 2024) 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. [Registered 29 February 2024]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 16 May 2024]
I am registered on the roll of Scottish Solicitors.
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: 9 October 2025
The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson): "The number of Scots from the most deprived areas who enter university has increased by 37 per cent since the Scottish Government established the commission on widening access, and the latest Universities and Colleges Admissions Service statistics show that record numbers of young Scots from deprived areas were accepted to study at university in…
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson): "As Parliament knows from contributions that I have made previously, I highly value youth work, and I am looking at ways to provide further support…
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson): "I thank Richard Leonard for the warm welcome and express to him that the Scottish Government values and works to support all those who work in further and higher education in our country…
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson): "The cabinet secretary maintains regular communication with Cabinet colleagues on matters of importance to the Government, including supporting people in Aberdeen and elsewhere to gain the skills for the energy transition in the north-east, which is a key priority. We will continue to work with regional partners to help to ensure that the workforce…
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Minister for Higher and Further Education (Ben Macpherson): "The cabinet secretary maintains regular communication with Cabinet colleagues on matters of importance to the Government, including supporting people in Aberdeen and elsewhere to gain the skills for the energy transition in the north-east, which is a key priority. We will continue to work with regional partners to help to ensure that the workforce…
Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025
Result 81 for, 10 against, 23 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025
Result 87 for, 23 against, 1 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025
Result 52 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Result 51 for, 25 against, 33 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Result 85 for, 0 against, 26 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Find out what motions Ben Macpherson has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:17 September 2025
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:16 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what actions have been taken to address the recommendations in the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry Interim Report: The Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Edinburgh."
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:29 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what consideration it has given to including education in the school curriculum on the risks of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or contaminated alcohol, in light of reports of people being poisoned while on holiday abroad."
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:19 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its improved methodology for the climate change taxonomy for its Budget 2025-26."
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:18 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its policy position on coal extraction in Scotland."
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:18 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of holiday hub provision for children with disabilities and ASN in the City of Edinburgh and elsewhere in Scotland."
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:4 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure the full implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) across all NHS boards, and whether this implementation will supersede the updated 2023 Scottish Good Practice Statement on ME/CFS."
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:11 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is assessing the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s capacity to provide emergency response cover and ensure community safety in Edinburgh, including in relation to meeting any needs resulting from population growth in the Lothians."
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:4 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on planned capital investment in the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works, including the no regrets funding commitment and what consideration is being given to further investment after the PFI contract ends, to meet the needs of population growth, climate change and the Edinburgh…
Asked by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party
Date lodged:2 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2025
"To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is supporting film and TV production in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland."
See all of Ben Macpherson's questions submitted in Parliament