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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

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 William Morris Society.

I am a member of the GMB Union.

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

I am a member of Unite the Union.

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 Friends of the Earth Scotland.

I am a member of the Co-operative Party.

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

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

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 Keir Hardie Society.

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]

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 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 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]

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]

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."

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 25 June 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Richard Leonard): "Good morning. I welcome everybody to the 21st meeting in 2025 of the Public Audit Committee. Agenda item 1 is for the committee to decide whether to take items 3, 4 and 5 in private. Do we agree to take those items in private…

Public Audit Committee meeting date: 25 June 2025

“Scottish National Investment Bank”

The Convener: "The second item on our agenda is further consideration of the Auditor General for Scotland’s report on the Scottish National Investment Bank. I am pleased to welcome our two witnesses…

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."

Meeting of the Commission meeting date: 23 June 2025

Audit Scotland Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31 March 2025 and Auditor’s Report on the Accounts

Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "Good morning. I want to continue to look at your “year in figures” table and turn attention to the fees and expenses that are paid to external firms…

Votes

How Richard Leonard has voted in Parliament

Find out how Richard Leonard has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16789

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 27, 2025

Result 64 for, 1 against, 53 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16892

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 91 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16960

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16942

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 70 for, 0 against, 50 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-16923

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 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: S6O-04724

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:21 May 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 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."

Question reference: S6W-37583

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:13 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 20 May 2025

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

Question reference: S6W-37330

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:8 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 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."

Question reference: S6W-37584

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:13 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 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."

Question reference: S6W-37582

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:13 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 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."

Question reference: S6W-37331

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:8 May 2025

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 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."

Question reference: S6O-04676

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:14 May 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 May 2025

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

Question reference: S6O-04597

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:23 April 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure everyone living and working in Scotland lives in accommodation that meets an adequate standard."

Question reference: S6W-36695

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:8 April 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of its responsible dog ownership summit on 20 September 2024."

Question reference: S6W-36696

Asked by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:8 April 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 16 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when the short life working group on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 last met."

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