Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
Website: martinwhitfieldmsp.com
X (previously known as Twitter): @_MWhitfield
Facebook: Martin's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5827
Text relay calls welcome.
Substitute Member
Convener
Member
Member
Member
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Scottish Labour
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Scottish Labour
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
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 Martin Whitfield. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
Until 6 May 2021, I was employed by East Lothian Council (of John Muir House, Brewery Park, Haddington, East Lothian EH41 3HA) as a primary teacher. I worked approximately 35 hours a week and received remuneration of between £40,001 and £45,000 per annum.
On Saturday 5 February 2022 I attended a rugby match at Murrayfield, as a guest of BT Group Plc (a telecommunications company of BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ). The value of the gift amounted to £325 for both the ticket and hospitality. [Registered 9 February 2022]
On 23 November 2023 I attended the Herald Scottish Politician of The Year Awards as a guest of Newsquest Media Group LTD (publisher of newspaper of Loudwater Mill, Station Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 9TY) at Prestonfield Hotel in Edinburgh. The gift was to me as an individual and that the value including VAT was £360. [Registered 12 December 2023]
On 5 December 2023 and on 12 December 2024 I received food hampers valued at approximately £150 and £185 respectively from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). On 16 December 2025 I received a food hamper and a bottle of whisky, valued at approximately £70 and £50 respectively, from Community Windpower Ltd. The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 18 December 2024, Amended interest 17 December 2025]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
I received a bottle of whisky from the Scotch Whisky Association, the nominal value for the COP26 Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to be £30, although it is not for commercial sale. [Registered 22 December 2021]
I am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
On the 27 April 2022, I attended the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2022, as a guest of Young Scot. The hospitality had a value of £150. [Registered 4 May 2022]
I was paid £150 from Ipsos MORI for their Annual Survey of MSPs on 22 December 2021. I donated this fee to charity. [Registered 22 December 2021]
On 5 December 2023 I received a gift of a food hamper valued at approximately £150 from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 12 December 2023]
I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.
I am a Trustee and Chair of the Burke-Veitch Scholarship which provides funds to allow children / young people to attend drama school. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
Between 12 June and 19 June 2022 I travelled to Jersey to head an Electoral Observation Mission on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR). The purpose of the visit was to observe the Island election as BIMR did in 2018. An initial report was published at the end of the visit with a full report being prepared with the mission's observations and recommendations. The total cost of the visit, met by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, was £3,000. [Registered 3 August 2022]
On 26 February 2022 I was the guest of NatWest Group at Scotland France 6 Nations Rugby Game. The value of the gift was ticket valued at £111.50 and hospitality of £35.00. The combined value of this gift and hospitality is below the threshold for registration in the Gifts category. [Registered 2 March 2022]
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I was paid £75 by Savanta on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I am a Member of EIS.
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: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Further to the answers that the cabinet secretary has already given, which I am grateful for, would not national guidance on the definition of “appropriate” in section 27 of the 1995 act resolve some of the challenges, because, in essence, there is a postcode lottery as to what “appropriate” means?"
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I will speak on behalf of Scottish Labour to various elements of the LCM. I compliment both committees that were involved in this matter—I appreciate the challenge in being able to scrutinise legislative consent memorandums…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is always a pleasure to follow Stephen Kerr, even when his oration—we might call it a salad of linguistic excitement—on the bill that is ploughing its way through the Westminster houses might lead to both entertainment and concern…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "This has been a fascinating debate on the legislative consent motion because, in quite amicable terms, it has highlighted one of the challenges that this Parliament and the Scottish Government have faced regarding legislative consent motions…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the minister, the committee and its convener, Clare Haughey, for their contributions to the debate…
Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.
Motion ref. S6M-16789
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 27, 2025
Result 64 for, 1 against, 53 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-16892
Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025
Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 91 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-16960
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-16942
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 70 for, 0 against, 50 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP abstained
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-16923
Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Find out what motions Martin Whitfield has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 2 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported concerns that pupils, parents and teachers may have to wait until 2031 for meaningful reform of the qualifications system, and that Qualifications Scotland will only be a rebrand of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, with many of the same structures and staff remaining in place."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 21 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 29 January 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what its reasoning is for commissioning an independent review of the legislative landscape around children in care by Professor Kenneth Norrie, in light of the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise noting in the Chamber on 14 January 2026 that the Scottish Government has already received legal advice…
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 14 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 29 January 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been identified for youth work in the draft Scottish Budget 2026-27."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 15 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 29 January 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it currently holds regarding the need for a review of the legislative landscape around care experienced people, and whether it will publish this information."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of an increase of 63 full-time equivalent teachers in 2025 compared with the previous year, how it will fulfil its commitment to recruit 3,500 new teachers before the end of the current parliamentary session."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the safety of nuclear power."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 1 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports that private residential childcare providers are making an estimated £10 million a year in profit from publicly funded contracts."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 20 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 November 2025
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will commit to structured engagement with MSP staff trade unions on an ongoing basis."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 17 November 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 November 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the University of Edinburgh plans to reduce jobs by up to 1,800 as part of £140 million in budget reductions by 2026-27, including what action it will take to protect staff and students from the impact of any such redundancies."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 13 October 2025
Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 10 November 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many families have lodged complaints regarding flexibility of hours in the early learning and childcare system since May 2021."
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament