Tributes paid to Christina McKelvie after MSP dies aged 57

Drugs and alcohol policy minister Christina McKelvie has died at the age of 57, her partner Keith Brown has announced.

The long-serving politician had been on medical leave since August.

She died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary this morning.

Flags at the Scottish Parliament will fly at half-mast today in tribute.

Brown, the depute leader of the SNP, said he and her sons Lewis and Jack are "heartbroken" by her loss.

Brown said: "Christina was an MSP from 2007, serving her constituents in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, from 2011. She convened two committees before becoming a minister in 2018. She loved her job, and she loved her party and was always a champion for the people of Scotland and an advocate for social justice and for Scotland to be an independent nation in Europe.

"To us, she was our beloved mum, partner and gran to Maeve and Leo. She was always hard working and enthusiastic and lit up every room she was in with her positivity and bright smile. She was always proud of her working class roots in Easterhouse and often said she could not have dreamt of becoming a government minister for the Scottish Government."

First elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2007, McKelvie had represented her constituency since 2007 and had held three separate ministerial posts over her career, covering equalities before taking on culture, Europe and international development and latterly drugs and alcohol policy.

A former member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, she took medical leave last summer to undergo treatment for secondary breast cancer and recently announced she would not seek reselection for the 2026 election.

Brown said: "We are immensely proud of all Christina achieved. She was passionate about many issues, including advocating for people living with MND [motor neurone disease] and sponsoring the first Wear It Pink at the Scottish Parliament in support of Breast Cancer Now many years before her own diagnosis with breast cancer, after which she used every opportunity to encourage women to check themselves and go to screening appointments.

"As a parliamentarian, she was proud of her work as convener of two committees - European and External Relations and then the Equalities Committee which added human rights to its title and remit under her convenership. She also championed policy and legislation through promoting ‘Clare’s Law’ to allow the disclosure of previous violent and abusive behaviour to those at risk. As a minister, she launched the world's first strategy to tackle social isolation and loneliness as a health issue, tackled the stigma surrounding menopause, and introduced legislation banning FGM [female genital mutilation].

"As a constituency MSP, Christina worked hard to support her constituents and many local groups and absolutely loved every part of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. Christina was also a committed trade unionist and long-standing member of Unison from her time working in social work services in Glasgow. 

"Today, we have lost our much loved Christina and know she will be very much missed by all our family and also her many, many friends, staff and constituents."

First Minister John Swinney said McKelvie was "one of the kindest and most generous people" he had ever met.

He said: "In all the years since I first met Christina, I have been so grateful to call her my friend and colleague and to benefit from her warmth and loyalty."

He went on: "For all her many political achievements, Christina was first and foremost deeply committed to her family. Everyone could see the joy that she and her partner Keith brought to each other’s lives, and she spoke so often over the years of her pride for her sons, and more recently her immense joy at becoming a granny.

"In recent years, when Christina returned to parliament after treatment for breast cancer, she was determined to help those around her, using her platform to encourage women to check themselves and go to screening appointments.

"The Scottish National Party has lost one of its finest, and I have lost an outstanding minister in my government. I know her loss will be felt right across the parliament and among the countless constituents she supported over the years. Christina was such a big-hearted woman, with compassion and social justice at her core. Her political allies and opponents would agree – she truly was a force of nature.

"Today, my thoughts and prayers are with Keith, her sons Jack and Lewis and her wider family and many friends."

Presiding officer Alison Johnstone said steps will be taken to honour McKelvie "in days to come". She said: "I remember Christina’s warm welcome when I arrived as a newly-elected MSP in 2011.

"Christina sponsored the Wear It Pink campaign in parliament for many years, and said how privileged she felt to be able to use her platform as an MSP to boost the work of others. She has expressed her gratitude to all the organisations who provided her with invaluable support as she went through her own treatment for breast cancer.

"The flags at Holyrood fly at half-mast today as a mark of respect for Christina."

Responding to the news, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called it "terribly sad", saying: "My thoughts and the thoughts of the entire Scottish Labour Party are with Keith, her wider family, friends and all her colleagues across the parliament."

Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said McKelvie was "the best of all of us", with a kindness that "lifted people".

Green MSP Maggie Chapman called her "a fiesty and determined advocate for human rights, and such a supportive colleague and friend".

Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine recalled a taking part in the Moonwalk anti-cancer fundraiser with McKelvie, saying: "So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Christina McKelvie. Thoughts are with Keith and the family. Tonight I will raise a glass of pink prosecco and remember how she lit up Moonwalk, as she did everywhere she was."

Stephen Kerr MSP of the Scottish Conservatives said he was "deeply saddened" by her death, adding: "Sometimes politics rightly takes its place behind our shared humanity. Rest in peace, Christina."