MSPs have paid loving tributes to their late colleague Christina McKelvie who tragically died last week aged 57.
The First Minister described her as a "force of nature" and one of the SNP's "finest parliamentarians" in a moving motion of condolence.
With her family and partner Keith Brown MSP watching on, John Swinney described her as one of the most "kind and generous" people he had ever met and his tribute was followed by many more from across all parties in the chamber.
She was elected as an MSP back in 2007 first as a representative for Central Scotland and then for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse from 2011. Alongside this, she was most recently Minister for Drugs and Alcohol policy, but had previously been equalities minister, serving under three first ministers during her time in Parliament.
Her death announced last week by Brown followed a diagnosis of breast cancer, and McKelvie had campaigned passionately for women to check themselves and attend screening appointments.
Addressing an emotional chamber, Swinney reflected on a whole host of McKelvie's achievements, describing her as a tireless campaigner for equality and social justice.
He said: "She campaigned for better support for people living with MND in honour of her late father.
"She fought to support those at risk of domestic abuse by championing Clare's Law. She fought to tackle the stigma surrounding menopause. She campaigned to improve the lives of gypsy travellers in Scotland.
"Every cause to which Christina devoted herself was underpinned by the values she held throughout her life – equalities, fairness and social justice.
"She was a lifelong campaigner on nuclear disarmament, a proud feminist and a staunch socialist.
He added: "Everyone who knew Christina and her partner, Keith Brown, could see how much happiness they have brought to each other. She spoke always of her pride in her sons Jack and Lewis as they grew up. More recently, Christina's unbridled joy of becoming a granny. I express my deepest sympathy and the Government’s to all of Christina’s family and friends at their very personal loss.
"My party has lost one of its finest parliamentarians."
Swinney spoke of how McKelvie was always proud of her Easterhouse roots and how proud she was of both her parents. McKelvie lost her dad to MND when she was aged just nine and she watched her mum not only care for him as he faced the disease, but also work night shifts to support her four children when there was little support from the state.
Some of her finest achievements as an MSP included her working with Scottish Power to establish a quick credit voucher scheme, which would allow people attending food banks to access vital heating or power to cook their food. This was initially trialled in Hamilton but then rolled out to other areas and has helped around 20,000 families and individuals.
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon described McKelvie as a "truly exceptional politician", someone whose heart "burned with a passion for social justice and equality".
In a heartfelt statement, Sturgeon said: "When I made Christina a minister, I knew she would do a good job, but I did not anticipate the strength of the impact she made.
"Whenever I encountered someone who worked in her policy field they would invariably tell me that they loved her. No disrespect to my other ministers, but that was not normal."
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay paid tribute to McKelvie's work to promote Clare's Law, which allows police to disclose if someone’s current or ex-partner has a history of violence or abuse. He said this had made a "huge difference" to many lives.
Scottish Labour leader Jackie Baillie drew tears as she described McKelvie's life as one that "touched so many of us".
Scottish Greens leader Patrick Harvie said he wanted to express particular gratitude for McKelvie's "strong track record" on LGBT equality and human rights and how she always spoke passionately about the need to treat asylum seekers as human beings.
Scottish LibDems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton paid tribute to the "defiant brightness with which she carried herself" and hailed her defence of human rights.
Flags were flown at half mast outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday in memory of McKelvie.
