Colleagues, I am so deeply saddened by the death of our dear parliamentary colleague Christina McKelvie MSP. On behalf of all at the Scottish Parliament, I offer my most sincere condolences to Christina’s partner, our friend and colleague Keith Brown MSP. To Christina’s family and many friends, I say that our entire Parliament—members, staff and all who work in this building—grieves with you.
Christina was a determined and passionate campaigner for social justice and an engaging parliamentarian. I remember her 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. She 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 expressed her gratitude to all the organisations that provided her with invaluable support as she went through her own treatment for breast cancer.
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 question time.
We will honour Christina fully in Parliament in the days to come.
Today is an unbearably sad day 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. I was proud that she was 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.
Today, I express 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.
I invite members to sit with me in a moment of quiet reflection.
Thank you, colleagues. I suspend the meeting until First Minister’s question time at 12 noon.
11:45 Meeting suspended.Air adhart
First Minister’s Question Time