Scotland’s new MPs include a surgeon, three more former NHS employees and at least five who will take experience of working across the third sector to their new roles in Westminster.

Only 15 Scottish MPs who served in the 2019 to 2024 Westminster parliament will be returning for the new session.

Of those who retired or were unsuccessful in being re-elected, three – Philippa Whitford, Martyn Day and Amy Callaghan, had all served as the SNP’s Westminster health spokesperson. Other campaigners for health who lost their seats are Mariona Fellows, who was also disabilities spokesperson, and her SNP colleague Patricia Gibson.

An unprecedented 42 out of the 57 constituencies in Scotland are electing new MPs.

As candidates, some shared more information about their previous employment and experience than others. For several who are also councillors, the information about their background was only available in their council declaration of interests rather than their campaign websites.

The new MPs with a background in health and life sciences

Glasgow South West Labour MP, Zubir Ahmed is a Consultant General, Vascular and Transplant Surgeon in Glasgow.

Meanwhile, North Ayrshire and Arran Labour MP, Irene Campbell was an NHS programme manager.

Kilmarnock and Loudoun Labour MP, Lillian Jones is a councillor whose register of interests shows her as employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde but does not say in what capacity.

Seamus Logan, the new SNP MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East was previously an Assistant Director and Programme Director in the NHS in Northern Ireland. 

East Kilbride and Strathaven Labour MP, Joani Reid was Head of Policy for the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

Melanie Ward, Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy was Chief Executive of UK Charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, resigning from this role when appointed to parliament last week.

Graeme Downie, the new Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar who was one of Fife Council’s members of the Fife Health & Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board, worked as the Scotland lead for the innovation charity NESTA.

For Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, the new Labour MP, Elaine Stewart is an East Ayrshire Councillor with 30 years’ experience in community projects within the third sector, with a “wealth of experience working in partnership with the NHS, local government and social care”.

Social care and third sector

Four further MPs have a background in social care and the third sector:

Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch’s new Labour MP Katrina Murray is a UNISON activist who has served as disabled members’ representative on Labour’s Conference Arrangements Committee since 2019.

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh Labour MP, Chris Murray is a former diplomat, think tank staffer and has worked for Save the Children.

Another connection to the charity, Kirsty McNeill, Labour MP for Midlothian was Executive Director for policy and advocacy for Save the Children. She was an adviser to Gordon Brown when he was PM and is currently chair of the Our Scottish Future thinktank.

Former MSP and now Labour MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife, Richard Baker has been working as a press officer for charity Age Scotland.

With health and social care, and many aspects of life sciences, being devolved to Edinburgh and Cardiff, ministerial roles in health and social care will go to English MPs.

The new Scottish MPs are most likely to continue take forward their experience in these areas through joining all party parliamentary interest groups and championing the interests of constituents, rather than by being invited to serve on Westminster legislative committees.

Read more: NHS is not a ‘political football', warns BMA; ALLIANCE: Election vision for health and care; Decriminalisation call to support drug deaths mission; UK joins forces to combat antimicrobial resistance; Doctors call for action on air pollution; Labour wants clinician-led ‘revolution' of NHS; ‘Bleak picture': health leaders react to NHS review

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