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.
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
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 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 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 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
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 £150 from Ipsos MORI for their Annual Survey of MSPs on 22 December 2021. I donated this fee to charity. [Registered 22 December 2021]
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.
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]
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 £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.
I am a Member of EIS.
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
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 was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]
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]
I was paid £75 by Savanta on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
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-20844
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 19, 2026
Result 93 for, 29 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20826.1
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 51 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Motion ref. S6M-20827
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 112 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20820.2
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Supported by: Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 93 for, 28 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20819.3
Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 89 for, 7 against, 27 abstained, 6 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: 18 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its energy policy and strategy, and in light of reports that Torness Nuclear Power Station is due to close by 2030, what its response is to the UK Government’s new Fusion Strategy, which aims to deliver thousands of jobs and long-term energy security."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 12 March 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its response is to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee announcement on pastoral support for MSPs that was made in the Chamber on 10 March."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 2 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 11 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that election materials, including postal ballot papers, are delivered on time and to a high standard prior to the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May 2026, in light of reports from the Communication Workers Union that the decreasing postal service workforce in Scotland could pose…
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the adequacy of grid inertia in light of the planned closure of Torness Nuclear Power Station."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the closure of Torness Nuclear Power Station on consumer energy bills."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the extension of the life of Torness Nuclear Power Station."
Asked by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the closure of Torness Nuclear Power Station on grid stability."
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: 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: 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."
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament