KEITH Brown has paid tribute to his "star" partner Christina McKelvie in the Scottish Parliament following her death aged 57.
McKelvie had recently taken a period of medical leave to receive treatment for secondary breast cancer, and Brown confirmed she had tragically died last week.
John Swinney delivered a motion of condolence in the chamber on Wednesday. Brown was the final speaker as MSPs all paid their respects to their colleague.
Other members of McKelvie's family watched on as politicians from across the political spectrum described her as a "force of nature".
Many MSPs wore yellow roses, as McKelvie associated this flower with her late mother.
"Of course planets revolve around stars, and I just don’t know what a planet does when its star has been extinguished,” Brown said.
"She was a feminist, she was a staunch supporter of the LGBTQ community. She was a staunch supporter of Travellers. So many people were not.
"And can I say — and I know it's contentious — but it wouldn’t be true not to say it: Christina was a trans ally.
"She was also, of course, and it's no surprise to anybody to hear me say, a very strong supporter of independence.
"Christina loved Scotland, its people, its culture, its history, but she also knew that many other people who did not believe independence felt similarly strong about their country, and that is why I think you saw such an absence of malice and vindictiveness on the part of Christina."
He added: "She never walked by on the other side. The number of times you were out when she was stopped by somebody in the street, either giving them money or food or one time in Campbelltown, a drunken man had fallen down. She would not leave his side until the ambulance came.
Brown went on: "I've often thought of Christina as a star. People have talked about how much fun she was to me. She was glamorous, she was sparkly, she was fun. And of course, planets revolve around stars. I just don't know what a planet does when its star has been extinguished."
McKelvie 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.
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.
This 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.
Swinney said: "In Christina’s heart, there was room for all of us. She was one of the kindest and the most generous people I have ever met in my life. My Government has lost an outstanding minister. My party has lost one of its finest parliamentarians. And many people — of all parties and of none — have lost a true friend."
