Emotional MSPs pay tribute to Christina McKelvie as Holyrood flags fly at half-mast

AN emotional presiding officer has led the tributes to Christina McKelvie at Holyrood, which saw MSPs weeping in the chamber in memory of the late minister.

McKelvie, the SNP’s minister for drugs policy, passed away on Thursday morning after a battle with breast cancer.

At the Scottish parliament, where she had sat as an MSP since 2007, flags were flown at half-mast in her memory.

As a mark of respect following the death of Christina McKelvie MSP, flags are flying at half-mast at @ScotParl pic.twitter.com/m0pG5hI1SP

— Scottish Parliament (@ScotParl) March 27, 2025

Presiding officer Alison Johnstone and First Minister John Swinney both spoke about McKelvie’s legacy before MSPs held a moment of silence. 

The session was then suspended for 15 minutes before First Minister’s Questions.

A visibly emotional Johnstone said: “Colleagues, I'm so deeply saddened by the death of our dear parliamentary colleague Christina McKelvie MSP.

“On behalf of all at the Scottish Parliament, my most sincere condolences to Christina's partner, our friend and colleague Keith Brown MSP.

“And to Christina's family and many friends, our entire parliament, members, staff, all who work in this building grieve with you.

“A determined and passionate campaigner for social justice and an engaging parliamentarian, I remember Christina's warm welcome when I arrived as a newly elected MSP in 2011. It meant a lot.

“Christina served the Parliament as a committee convener and the government as a minister under three first ministers.

“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's expressed her gratitude to all the organisations who provided her with invaluable support as she went through her own treatment for breast cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon was among the MSPs seen weeping in the chamber as tributes were paid to Christina McKelvie (Image: PA) Humza Yousaf and John Swinney embrace after news of Christina McKelvie's death (Image: PA) “The flags at Holyrood fly at half mast today as a mark of respect for Christina. A book of condolence for members to sign will be available after First Minister's Questions.

“We will honour Christina fully in Parliament in the days to come.”

In his speech, First Minister Swinney said it was “an unbearably sad day”.

He went on: “As we all come to terms with the loss of our generous, kind, loyal and fun loving colleague Christina McKelvie, members across the chamber all feel that loss.

“But my party is aching at the news today. Christina was a parliamentarian of the highest motivation and the finest nature.

Christina McKelvie was an MSP since 2007 (Image: Stewart Attwood) “I was proud that she is a member of my government, giving her all to make life better for others, which was always her motivation.

“She served her constituents, her party and her country with the greatest amount of devotion that was imaginable.

“And today I expressed to her partner, and my deputy, Keith Brown, one of my dearest friends, and to her sons Jack and Lewis, my profound sympathy at their loss and my gratitude for the benefit of having known such a magnificent woman. Thank you.”

At First Minister’s Questions, other MSPs including the SNP’s Kenneth Gibson and Green co-leader Patrick Harvie were also visibly moved as they paid tribute to McKelvie.

Harvie said: “The only question I would like to ask the First Minister today, is how does he think we can all bring that kindness and compassion into our work, as Christina did?”

Swinney thanked the Green MSP for the question, and praised the “magnificent generosity of spirit of Christina McKelvie”.