Richard Leonard
Scottish Labour
MSP for Central Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Richard Leonard
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6465
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Cross-party groups
Richard is a member of 4 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Industrial Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nuclear Disarmament
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Older People, Age and Ageing
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on WASPI
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Richard has 2 parliamentary and government roles
Conveners Group
Member
Scottish Commission For Public Audit
Member
Party Roles
Richard does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Richard has had 3 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021
Public Audit Committee
Member
28 June 2016 - 09 January 2018
Social Security Committee
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 - 23 November 2017
Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee
Member
Register of interests
Richard's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Richard Leonard. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a member of the Co-operative Party.
On Saturday 26 November 2022 I attended and spoke at a conference on Community Wealth Building in Preston. This event was sponsored by the Communication Workers Union (a trade union) which provided bed and breakfast accommodation in the Holiday Inn Preston on Friday 25 November 2022. The value of the hospitality was £120. [Registered 16 January 2023, Amended interest 20 January 2023]
On 14th of May 2023 I attended the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Scotland Annual Dinner as a guest of the PFA. The value of the dinner was £50. [Registered 27 July 2023]
On 15 February 2024 I accepted two tickets by invitation from Scottish Opera for a performance of Marx In London! at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow. The value of the tickets and associated hospitality was £203. [Registered 23 February 2024]
I am the Convener of the RMT Scottish Parliamentary Group. [Registered 22 June 2021]
I am a member of the Keir Hardie Society.
I am Convenor of the PFA Scotland Parliamentary Interest Group. [Registered 11 November 2021]
I am a member of Unite the Union.
I am a member of the William Morris Society.
I am a member of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
I am a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland.
On Sunday 1 May 2022 I attended the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) annual awards ceremony as a guest of the PFA. The value of the hospitality was £50. [Registered 16 July 2022]
Expenses incurred in the constituency campaign for the Scottish Parliament Election of 6 May 2021 were met by Airdrie and Shotts Constituency Labour Party (A&S CLP). To assist in this campaign A&S CLP received, from permissible sources, the following donations: £2,000 from Unite the Union, a trade union (of John Smith House, 145/165 West Regent Street, Glasgow G2 4RZ). £1,000 from CWU, a trade union (of 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1RX). £250 from ASLEF, a trade union (of 77 St John Street, Clerkenwell, London EC1M 4NN). £450 from UNISON Scotland a trade union (of 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX). £100 from TSSA, a trade union (of 2nd floor, 17 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4SQ). £500 from the RMT, a trade union (of Unity House. 39 Chalton Street. London NW1 1JD).
I am a member of the Scottish Labour History Society.
I am a member of the GMB Union.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Richard Leonard has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 1 May 2024
International Workers Memorial Day 2024
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "I thank Maggie Chapman for bringing forward this special debate, and I remind members of my voluntary register of trade union interests. Freedom of association is a basic human right…
Chamber meeting date: 30 April 2024
Colleges (Funding Gap)
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "In his resignation speech yesterday, the First Minister told us that “it is often the most marginalised in our society who bear the brunt…
Chamber meeting date: 30 April 2024
Colleges (Funding Gap)
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "In his resignation speech yesterday, the First Minister told us that “it is often the most marginalised in our society who bear the brunt…
Chamber meeting date: 30 April 2024
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (50th Anniversary)
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab): "I thank Bill Kidd for bringing this important motion to Parliament, and I remind members of my own voluntary register of trade union interests. It was Michael Foot who steered the Health and Safety at Work etc Bill through Parliament back in 1974…
Public Audit Committee meeting date: 25 April 2024
Decision on Taking Business in Private
The Convener (Richard Leonard): "Good morning. I welcome everyone to the 13th meeting in 2024 of the Public Audit Committee. The first item on our agenda is to agree to take agenda items 3, 4 and 5 in private. Are we agreed? Members indicated agreement."
Votes
How Richard Leonard has voted in Parliament
Find out how Richard Leonard has voted recently.
WASPI: Women Against State Pension Inequality
Submitted by: Humza Yousaf, Glasgow Pollok, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Supported by: Paul McLennan, Emma Roddick, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Result 75 for, 0 against, 52 abstained, 2 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
WASPI: Women Against State Pension Inequality
Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Result 21 for, 95 against, 11 abstained, 2 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
WASPI: Women Against State Pension Inequality
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Result 31 for, 74 against, 21 abstained, 3 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Motion of No Confidence
Submitted by: Anas Sarwar, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Friday, April 26, 2024
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Claire Baker, Jeremy Balfour, Neil Bibby, Sarah Boyack, Alexander Burnett, Foysol Choudhury, Katy Clark, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Tim Eagle, Rhoda Grant, Mark Griffin, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Rachael Hamilton, Daniel Johnson, Monica Lennon, Richard Leonard, Douglas Lumsden, Michael Marra, Liam McArthur, Pauline McNeill, Carol Mochan, Edward Mountain, Paul O'Kane, Willie Rennie, Alex Rowley, Colin Smyth, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells, Tess White, Martin Whitfield, Beatrice Wishart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Result 58 for, 70 against, 0 abstained, 1 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Mackay, Central Scotland, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 29, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Result 123 for, 1 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Richard Leonard in Parliament
Find out what motions Richard Leonard has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Richard Leonard has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 1 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Forestry Grant Scheme is fit for purpose."
Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it anticipates that it will be able to provide certainty to Skills Development Scotland regarding its budget for 2024-25."
Answered by Graeme Dey on 1 May 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an assessment of any environmental impact of replacing grass pitches with artificial turf pitches that includes a full life-cycle assessment of the manufacture, use and disposal of artificial turf pitches and crumb rubber from playgrounds."
Answer expected on 10 May 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of international research and the European Chemicals Agency’s evidence-based assessment for banning microplastic 3G crumb rubber infills, whether it will now take steps to immediately start phasing out this reported pollutant."
Answer expected on 10 May 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct a comparative assessment of the (a) short-, (b) medium- and (c) long-term environmental impact of creating a standard sized natural grass football, rugby or hockey pitch, compared with 3G artificial surfaces of the same size."
Answer expected on 10 May 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will incentivise (a) local authorities and (b) other public bodies to install sustainable artificial sports surfaces or natural grass pitches and playgrounds."
Answer expected on 10 May 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what changes it has made to procurement guidance since 2019 in order to reduce the amount of crumb rubber infill being discharged into seas and rivers."
Answer expected on 10 May 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on the wider rail infrastructure supply chain of the reported reduction of £315 million to the rail renewals budget for control period 7."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been made to the (a) work bank and (b) volume of work for the Rail Systems Alliance Scotland for year one of control period 7 as a result of the Network Rail funding settlement for control period 7."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 April 2024
Asked by: Leonard, Richard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact on (a) safety, (b) rail performance and (c) jobs of the reported reduction in the work bank and volume of work allocated to the Rail Systems Alliance Scotland for year one of control period 7."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 April 2024
See all of Richard Leonard's questions submitted in Parliament