Christina McKelvie was a force of nature who will be greatly missed

In more than 25 years in public life, I have been privileged to work alongside extraordinary parliamentarians from all parties. Some advocated for change and equality. Some were tireless, dedicated champions of their constituents. Others were skilled in debate, with a mastery of policy detail.

And there is also a rare colleague who’s able to light up every room they enter, to effortlessly connect with people of any background and to make them feel at ease.

Christina McKelvie embodied each of these qualities. One of a kind, a force of nature – none of these phrases seem to quite grasp just what an extraordinary person Christina was.

Born in Glasgow, Christina was fiercely proud of her roots in Easterhouse. It was here that she developed the core values of fairness and equality that would underpin her politics. And it was here that she first encountered the social injustice which she would spend the rest of her life fighting against. 

Growing up seeing the deprivation in her community, Christina became a social worker. Seeing the impact of the worst excesses of Thatcherism among working class Glaswegians, Christina became a lifelong socialist and trade unionist. Seeing inequality against women, she was a lifelong feminist.

Having lost her father to Motor Neurone Disease, Christina campaigned passionately for better support for people with the condition. Even after her own diagnosis with cancer, Christina used her platform to encourage women to go to screening appointments. 

Whether it was social injustice or personal tragedy, Christina was never willing to simply see suffering, pain or unfairness without thinking of others and fighting against it. Christina always fought. And on so many occasions, she won.

Many readers of this magazine will no doubt be aware of Christina from the sheer breadth of her policy work – and the sheer number of these victories. 

Her campaigning on MND delivered vital new support for people with the condition. She successfully championed Clare’s Law to support those at risk of domestic abuse. She introduced legislation banning female genital mutilation (FGM) and she was a key supporter of the Tie campaign to support LGBT young people in Scotland. 

We have many things to learn from Christina’s example and from her incredible, inspiring life. But it is that determination to help others and to leave the world a better place than she found it which I hope everyone who knew and loved Christina carries on. 

Because even Christina had to accept that she could not do everything she wanted to. So many of the causes dear to her heart are still there for us to fight and to win. 

Tackling poverty, inequality and violence against women, and winning independence for Scotland – the best tribute I can make to Christina McKelvie will be to recommit to fighting for the causes she committed her life to. 

Christina’s constituents have lost an outstanding, dedicated representative. The SNP has lost one of our most passionate and eloquent advocates. Our parliament and government has lost a member of incredible talent. And I have lost a dear, dear friend.

But most importantly, Christina’s family have lost a beloved partner, mum and granny.

For Keith, Lewis, Jack and the rest of her family, their grief will be raw. But I hope they will take some comfort in the extraordinary legacy that Christina leaves behind – and from the knowledge that her legacy still has pages to be written.

Because Christina did not just achieve so much as a parliamentarian. She inspired countless others who will now pick up the baton and fight for a better future. And I think that is the political legacy she would be most proud of.