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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 the Keir Hardie Society.

I am a member of the Scottish Labour History Society.

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]

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

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

I am a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland.

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

I am a member of Unite the Union.

I am a member of the GMB Union.

I am a friend of the Grassic Gibbon Centre. [Registered 4 October 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]

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 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 William Morris Society.

I am a member of the Co-operative Party.

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: 27 November 2025

Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "Let me say at stage 3 what I said at stage 2: it is not right, it is not constitutional, it is not competent and it is not democratic to attempt to write into legislation—into a law that could be passed by this Parliament, and which could be supported by the Government of the day in this Parliament—a call for, even if it is no longer an instruction…

Chamber meeting date: 27 November 2025

Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "I rise as a member of this Parliament but also as the convener of its Public Audit Committee…

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 26 November 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Richard Leonard): "Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 31st meeting in 2025 of the Public Audit Committee. Under agenda item 1, do members of the committee agree to take agenda items 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 this morning in private? Members indicated agreement."

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 26 November 2025

“The 2024/25 audit of NHS Grampian”

The Convener: "Welcome back. We will now turn to agenda item 3, which is consideration of the 2024-25 audit of NHS Grampian, which has warranted the production of a section 22 report. I am pleased to welcome back the Auditor General, Stephen Boyle…

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 26 November 2025

“The 2024/25 audit of NHS Ayrshire and Arran”

The Convener: "Item 2 is consideration of the 2024-25 audit of NHS Ayrshire and Arran. I am very pleased to welcome this morning the Auditor General, Stephen Boyle. Good morning…

Votes

How Richard Leonard has voted in Parliament

Find out how Richard Leonard has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-19980.1

Transparency in Tackling Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Result 50 for, 73 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-19980

Transparency in Tackling Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, December 1, 2025

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Result 95 for, 27 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19977.1

Crisis in Social Care

Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Supported by: Tom Arthur, Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Result 68 for, 55 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19980.2

Transparency in Tackling Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Supported by: Angela Constance
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Result 67 for, 55 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19977

Crisis in Social Care

Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, December 1, 2025

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Result 67 for, 51 against, 5 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

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-42307

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 December 2025

"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: S6W-42308

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41435 by Mairi McAllan on 18 November 2025, whether it will provide a list of those specific organisations that it (a) has met or consulted with (i) between 20 November 2024 and 16 January 2025 and (ii) since 17 January 2025 and (b) it plans to consult with in the development of…

Question reference: S6W-42309

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41436 by Mairi McAllan on 19 November 2025, whether it will consider introducing a relationship between the charge levied by the employer for accommodation and the accommodation offset rate when it introduces bespoke statutory accommodation standards."

Question reference: S6W-42306

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 December 2025

"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: S6O-05272

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what communication the finance secretary has had with the UK Government and the Financial Conduct Authority regarding what support is available for policyholders impacted by the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by CMutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings."

Question reference: S6W-41690

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 5 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 18 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many inspections at farms have been carried out by its Agriculture Wages Inspection Team since 1 January 2025, broken down by (a) how many were as a result of a complaint received by a third party and (b) what proportion related to people holding a Seasonal Worker Visa, and what information it has regarding what…

Question reference: S6W-41417

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 20 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 17 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the release of reserve funds to pension scheme members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme."

Question reference: S6O-05158

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 12 November 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its engagement with the Financial Conduct Authority and other organisations regarding the impact on policyholders of the withdrawal of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings."

Question reference: S6W-41566

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 28 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with credit unions regarding the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025."

Question reference: S6W-41567

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 28 October 2025

Current Status: Holding Answer by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the number of older and vulnerable people who will have their insurance policies for funeral costs withdrawn as a result of the termination of the Family Protection Plan by C Mutual and Maiden Life Försäkrings from 30 November 2025."

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