MSP and SNP Government minister Christina McKelvie has died aged 57, her family have said.
McKelvie was the SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and was the Scottish Government Minister for Drugs and Alcohol policy.
Her partner, Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane and the current deputy leader of the SNP, confirmed McKelvie’s death in a statement on Thursday morning.
“Christina’s sons Lewis and Jack and I are heartbroken to announce the death of Christina at Glasgow Royal Infirmary this morning,” he wrote.
He added: “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.
“We are immensely proud of all Christina achieved.”
McKelvie (below) became an MSP in 2007, and was the minister for equalities from 2008 to 2023, before becoming minister for culture, Europe and international development.
Holyrood will fly its flags at half-mast in her memory on Thursday.
As an MSP, she was convener of the European and External Relations Committee and a member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe between 2016 and 2018, and then Convener of the Equalities and Human Rights Committee from September 2016 till she became a Minister in 2018.
Brown described McKelvie as “passionate” about many issues, including advocating for people living with MND 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.
McKelvie also championed policy and legislation through promoting Clare’s Law, which allowed the disclosure of previous violent and abusive behaviour to those at risk.
As a minister, McKelvie 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 female genital mutilation (FGM).
"A force of nature, Christina enhanced the lives of all around her. My deepest sympathy to Keith, Jack and Lewis."
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was going to take a "very long time" for those who loved McKelvie to come to terms with her passing.
Sturgeon added: "I will miss her so much. All of us in the SNP and Scottish Parliament will carry her in our hearts forever.
"Her memory and legacy will be with us always."
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: "Such terribly sad news. It was impossible not to be struck by Christina’s energy and empathy. Scotland will be poorer without her. My thoughts are with her family and friends."
