By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-03-27 12:36:33 | Updated at 2025-03-30 15:39:55
3 days ago
Scottish First Minister John Swinney led tributes after it was announced a former MSP cabinet minister had passed away after losing her battle with a long-term illness.
Christina McKelvie, 57, passed away at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Thursday morning, announced by her partner and fellow SNP politician, Keith Brown.
In a statement, he said: “Christina’s sons Lewis and Jack and I are heartbroken to announce the death of Christina at Glasgow Royal Infirmary this morning.
“To us, she was our beloved mum, partner and gran to Maeve and Leo. She was always hard working and enthusiastic and lit up every room she was in with her positivity and bright smile.
She passed away earlier today at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary
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“We are immensely proud of all Christina achieved. She was passionate about many issues, including advocating for people living with MND and sponsoring the first Wear It Pink at the Scottish Parliament in support of Breast Cancer.”
Issuing a statement on behalf of his government, John Swinney paid tribute to “one of the kindest and most generous people” he had ever met and he was “so grateful to call her my friend and colleague and to benefit from her warmth and loyalty.
He continued: “In her almost two decades as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, Christina put her values into action.
“Whether it was helping her constituents in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, serving as a highly-respected committee convenor, or in the Ministerial posts she held, Christina was always a fierce champion for equality, social justice, for Scottish independence and for a better world.
As the news filtered across the political spectrum, tributes have poured in for the “one of a kind” politician.
Susan Aitken, SNP leader of Glasgow City Council wrote on X: “Christina McKelvie lit up every room she walked into.
“She was a warrior with a heart the size of Scotland and the best boss I ever had. Sharing her friendship was one of the great privileges of my life.”
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As the news filtered across the political spectrum, tributes have poured in for the “one of a kind” politician
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Shirley-Anne Somerville, SNP Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice said, “Christina was the best of all of us.
“She was one of the most caring, passionate and driven people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Her smile would light up a room. Her kindness lifted people.”
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian McKay told her followers: “Words can't do justice to this loss.
“Christina was one of a kind. Her support, kind words and encouragement during my early days in Parliament has stayed with me. She will be so greatly missed.”
Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, leader Russell Findlay called her loss “absolutely tragic”, adding “our thoughts are with Christina's family, friends and colleagues.”
Born in 1968, Christina McKelvie was 39 when she was first elected as a list MSP for the Central region in 2007, the same year as the Scottish National Party was first elected to government in Scotland.
Born in 1968, Christina McKelvie was 39 when she was first elected as a list MSP for the Central region in 2007, the same year as the Scottish National Party was first elected to government in Scotland
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She was elected to represent the constituency of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse from 2011, where she was consecutively elected until the day of her passing.
She held several cabinet roles during her time in government: Minister for Equalities and Older People; Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development; and most recently the Minister for Drug and Alcohol Policy.
In August 2024 she announced her intentions to take a step back from frontline politics after announcing she was receiving treatment for secondary breast cancer.
At the time she explained, “In 2021 I was pleased to be able to ring the bell at the Beatson cancer centre to mark the end of my treatment for breast cancer.
"Unfortunately, in June I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer and started treatment in July, again at the Beatson.”
Christina McKelvie is survived by her sons, Lewis and Jack, and her partner Keith Brown.
