Christina McKelvie

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Christina McKelvie
Official portrait, 2023
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy
In office
8 February 2024 – 27 March 2025
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
John Swinney
Preceded byElena Whitham
Succeeded byVacant
Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
In office
29 March 2023 – 8 February 2024
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Preceded byNeil Gray
Succeeded byKaukab Stewart
Minister for Equalities and Older People
In office
28 June 2018 – 29 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byJeane Freeman
Succeeded byEmma Roddick
Convener of the Equalities & Human Rights Committee
In office
29 September 2016 – 28 June 2018
Preceded byMargaret McCulloch
Succeeded byRuth Maguire
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse
In office
5 May 2011 – 27 March 2025
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byVacant
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Central Scotland
In office
3 May 2007 – 5 May 2011
Personal details
Born(1968-03-04)4 March 1968
Glasgow, Scotland
Died27 March 2025(2025-03-27) (aged 57)
Glasgow, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party
Children2
Alma materUniversity of St Andrews
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionPolitician, social worker

Christina McKelvie (4 March 1968 – 27 March 2025) was a Scottish politician and social worker who was a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), she was the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse from 2011 until her death in 2025, having previously represented the Central Scotland region from 2007 to 2011.

She served as Minister for Equalities and Older People from 2018 to 2023, before being promoted to Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development by Humza Yousaf. In February 2024, she was appointed Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, serving in this position until her death.

Early life

McKelvie was born on 4 March 1968 in Glasgow.[1] She grew up in Easterhouse, in the East End of the city, and was educated at St Leonard's Secondary School.[2] McKelvie then went on to gain qualifications from Anniesland College, Cardonald College, and the University of St Andrews.[1] She worked in the social work services department of Glasgow City Council as a learning and development officer.[3] She was an active trade unionist with Unison.[3]

Political career

In 2007, McKelvie was selected as the SNP candidate for the Hamilton South constituency where she was unsuccessful,[4] however she was elected through the regional list to represent the Central Scotland region.[5] At the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, McKelvie contested the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat and was elected.[6] She served as convener of the European and External Relations Committee from 14 June 2011 until 23 March 2016.[7]

Christina McKelvie MSP addressing the Scotland Malawi Partnership in September 2023[8]

In 2016, she was re-elected to the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency.[9][10] Within Parliament she became the Convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee from 16 June 2016 until 29 September 2016, then Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee from 29 September 2016 until 28 June 2018.[7]

On 28 June 2018, she became Minister for Older People and Equalities.[11] In February 2021, she announced a short medical leave. Her ministerial role was covered by Shirley-Anne Somerville who would fill in as minister for equalities and older people.[12] Following the Cabinet reshuffle in May 2021, she remained in that junior ministerial role, with the title changed to Minister for Equalities and Older People.[13] A further short period of leave followed in September, after which she gave details that she had completed treatment for breast cancer.[14] When the breast cancer charity MoonWalk event was held in Edinburgh in June 2022 for the first time in three years, she participated as part of a cross-party team of women.[15]

In 2023, she was appointed to the Yousaf government as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.[16] She visited Malawi and supported the Scotland Malawi Partnership taking SDG 5: Gender Equality as a priority.[8]

On 8 February 2024, as part of a wider cabinet reshuffle triggered by the resignation of Michael Matheson as Health Secretary, she was appointed Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy.[17]

On 12 March 2025, she announced she would stand down at the next Scottish Parliament election.[18] Her intention was to continue with her treatment.[19][20]

Illness and death

McKelvie attended a screening mammogram in December 2020 and was given a diagnosis of breast cancer on 3 February 2021, although did not make details of her illness public until after she was re-elected as an MSP in May 2021.[21]

In June 2024, McKelvie announced she had been diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She went on leave from her post as Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy in August 2024.[22]

McKelvie died from her illness at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 27 March 2025.[23] Her funeral was held on 11 April 2025 at Daldowie Crematorium near Uddingston.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "Current MSPs: Christina McKelvie: Personal information". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. ^ Rhodes, Mandy (12 March 2019). "Christina McKelvie: Equality is about changing culture and attitudes". Holyrood. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "MSPs". STV News. 22 October 2010. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016.
  4. ^ "Scottish elections 2007 > Hamilton South". BBC News. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Scottish elections 2007 > Central Scotland". BBC News. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Vote 2011 > Scotland > Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse". BBC News. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Current and Previous MSPs: Christina McKelvie". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  8. ^ a b "The Scotland-Malawi Weekly Newsletter, 09/03/2023". eepurl.com. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  9. ^ Russell, Greg (6 May 2016). "McKelvie holds Hamilton for SNP". The National. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Scotland Election 2016: Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse: Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Nine new junior ministers appointed to Scottish government". BBC News. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  12. ^ "SNP's Christina McKelvie takes medical leave from ministerial role". BBC News. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Nicola Sturgeon appoints new health and education secretaries". BBC News. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Equalities minister Christina McKelvie finishes cancer treatment". Holyrood. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Edinburgh MoonWalk returns to support cancer care". BBC News. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  16. ^ Paton, Craig (29 March 2023). "Yousaf says SNP is 'united' as he appoints supporters to his first Cabinet". Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Neil Gray replaces Michael Matheson as Scottish health secretary". BBC News. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Christina McKelvie to stand down at next election". Holyrood. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  19. ^ "SNP minister who is undergoing cancer treatment to stand down in 2026". The National. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  20. ^ Media, P. A. (10 March 2025). "Scottish minister undergoing cancer treatment to stand down next year". STV News. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  21. ^ Garton-Crosbie, Abbi (6 March 2022). "Christina McKelvie: SNP minister won their Holyrood seat while secretly fighting cancer". The National. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  22. ^ "Christina McKelvie steps back from government during cancer treatment". BBC News. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  23. ^ Cochrane, Angus (27 March 2025). "SNP minister Christina McKelvie dies aged 57". BBC News. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Funeral for SNP MSP Christina McKelvie to take place in Glasgow". STV News. 11 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.