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

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

I am a member of the William Morris Society.

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

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

I am a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland.

I am a member of the Scottish Labour History Society.

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.

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 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 Co-operative Party.

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]

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]

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.

Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2026

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "In the coming weeks, I will be leaving this Parliament for the very last time. When I was first elected 10 years ago, I vowed in coming here to leave the world better than when I found it…

Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2026

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "In the coming weeks, I will be leaving this Parliament for the very last time. When I was first elected 10 years ago, I vowed in coming here to leave the world better than when I found it…

United States Consul General (Meetings)

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

Richard Leonard: "The siege of Venezuela, the seizure of its President and the recolonisation of its oil fields; the continuing siege of Cuba and the threat to its sovereignty; and the threat to Greenland and the robbery of its mineral wealth—is this not naked aggression? Is this not raw imperialism? Are they not illegal actions of Donald Trump—actions that all…

“Administration of Scottish income tax 2024-25”

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 28 January 2026

The Convener: "Our principal agenda item this morning is consideration of the National Audit Office’s report into the administration of Scottish income tax and of the Auditor General for Scotland’s letter of assurance that accompanies the report…

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 28 January 2026

The Convener (Richard Leonard): "Good morning. I welcome everyone to the fourth meeting in 2026 of the Public Audit Committee. The first item on our agenda is a decision on whether to take in private agenda items 3 to 7…

Votes

How Richard Leonard has voted in Parliament

Find out how Richard Leonard has voted recently.

Ecocide (Scotland) Bill

Motion ref. S6M-20606

Submitted by: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 5, 2026

Result 90 for, 26 against, 4 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Opposing the Scottish Government's Proposed Council Tax Rises

Motion ref. S6M-20654.1

Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Supported by: Mark Griffin
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 23 for, 94 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Opposing the Scottish Government's Proposed Council Tax Rises

Motion ref. S6M-20654

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 2, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 59 for, 58 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Approval of SI

Motion ref. S6M-20670

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 93 for, 3 against, 17 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Saving Scottish Hospitality

Motion ref. S6M-20653

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 2, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Result 59 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

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: S6O-05514

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 4 February 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to ensure that seasonal workers can expect to be provided with accommodation, which meets agreed standards during their stay in Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-43489

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 4 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 18 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the inquest into the death of former professional Scotland footballer Gordon McQueen and the findings by the senior coroner, Jonathan Heath, that “on the balance of probability that repeatedly heading footballs contributed to his developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy”, what its position…

Question reference: S6W-43490

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 30 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the work that is being done in the development of Employment Injury Assistance to consider whether all current qualifying prescribed conditions for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit will remain and if other conditions will be added."

Question reference: S6W-43491

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 30 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 13 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what consultation and involvement it has had with trade unions in the development of Employment Injury Assistance."

Question reference: S6W-42306

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the development of standards for caravans and mobile accommodation for seasonal workers, and further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will ensure that (a) there is a robust inspection regime, (b) those providing accommodation that does not meet the…

Question reference: S6W-42307

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 30 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41434 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025, whether it plans to publish the final review report and options for ministers to consider for new accommodation standards for seasonal workers developed by its Housing Standards and Quality team, and, if so, by what date this will…

Question reference: S6O-05426

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 21 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the United States Consul General in Edinburgh to discuss Scotland’s international strategy."

Question reference: S6O-05389

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has entered into with the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding the publication of the controlling interests of recipients of payments made under the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024."

Question reference: S6W-42428

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 8 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assurance it can provide to the (a) firefighters and (b) communities of Cumbernauld and surrounding areas that the urban search and rescue appliance will continue to operate from Cumbernauld Fire Station following the service delivery review."

Question reference: S6W-42429

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 8 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what sites have been identified in the Cumbernauld area for the construction of a new fire station; what the timescale is for the construction of this, and by what date it will become operational."

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