# Rhoda Grant

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Scottish Labour Co-op politician

Rhoda Grant Official portrait, 2016 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) In office 3 May 2007 – 9 April 2026 In office 6 May 1999 – 31 March 2003 Scottish Labour portfolios 2016–2017 Spokesperson for Rural Economy and Connectivity 2017–2018 Shadow Minister for Parliamentary Business 2017–2019 Spokesperson for Equalities 2019–2020 Spokesperson for Finance Apr–Nov 2020 Spokesperson for the Eradication of Poverty and Inequality 2020–2021 Spokesperson for Justice 2021–present Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Personal details Born (1963-06-26) 26 June 1963 (age 63) Stornoway, Outer Hebrides, Scotland Party Scottish Labour Co-operative Alma mater Open University Website Official Website

**Rhoda Grant** (born 26 June 1963) is a Scottish politician who served as a [Member of the Scottish Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament) (MSP) for the [Highlands and Islands](/source/Highlands_and_Islands_(Scottish_Parliament_electoral_region)) region from [2007](/source/2007_Scottish_Parliament_election) to [2026](/source/2026_Scottish_Parliament_election), having previously represented the same region from [1999](/source/1999_Scottish_Parliament_election) to [2003](/source/2003_Scottish_Parliament_election). A member of the [Scottish Labour](/source/Scottish_Labour) and [Co-operative Party](/source/Co-operative_Party), She is currently the [Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands.](/source/Opposition_Shadow_Cabinets_of_the_Scottish_Parliament)[1]

## Early life and career

Grant was born in 1963 in [Stornoway](/source/Stornoway), [Outer Hebrides](/source/Outer_Hebrides) and studied for a degree in social sciences from the [Open University](/source/Open_University). Prior to her election, Grant worked for the [trade union](/source/Trade_union) [UNISON](/source/UNISON) and [Highland Regional Council](/source/Highland_Regional_Council).

## Political career

Official parliamentary portrait, 2011

In the [1999 Scottish Parliament election](/source/1999_Scottish_Parliament_election), Grant was elected to a list seat for the [Highlands and Islands](/source/Highlands_and_Islands_(Scottish_Parliament_electoral_region)) region.[2] In the [2003 election](/source/2003_Scottish_Parliament_election), she fought the [Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber](/source/Inverness_East%2C_Nairn_and_Lochaber_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)) constituency but came second to [Fergus Ewing](/source/Fergus_Ewing) of the [Scottish National Party](/source/Scottish_National_Party), who held the seat by 1,000 votes. In that election, she also lost her regional list seat.

In the [2007 Scottish Parliament election](/source/2007_Scottish_Parliament_election), Grant was again elected as a regional list MSP for Highlands and Islands,[3] as the [Scottish Green Party](/source/Scottish_Green_Party)'s vote share collapsed and Labour won three list seats, and she was re-elected in the [2011 election](/source/2011_Scottish_Parliament_election).

In 2013, Grant campaigned for filters to be put in place to make the viewing or downloading of [internet pornography](/source/Internet_pornography) more difficult, arguing there had been a significant connection between pornography, the sex industry, abuse and [violence against women](/source/Violence_against_women).[4]

Grant was appointed [Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Women and Equality](/source/Opposition_Shadow_Cabinets_of_the_Scottish_Parliament) by new leader [Richard Leonard](/source/Richard_Leonard) on 19 November 2017, and was also its parliamentary business manager between 19 November 2017 and 4 October 2018, when she was succeeded by [Neil Findlay](/source/Neil_Findlay).[5][6] She became [Spokesperson for Finance](/source/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Finance_and_Local_Government) on 2 September 2019.[7] She served as Spokesperson for Eradication of Poverty and Inequality from April to November 2020[8] and [Spokesperson for Justice](/source/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Justice) from November 2020 to March 2021.[9]

Grant defended Richard Leonard after calls for him to resign in September 2020, saying:

The crisis facing our country requires bold thinking and it requires a united Scottish Labour Party, under the leadership of Richard Leonard, fighting for the real change we need.[10]

Grant nominated [Monica Lennon](/source/Monica_Lennon) in the [2021 Scottish Labour leadership election](/source/2021_Scottish_Labour_leadership_election).[11]

Grant was one of 5 Labour MSPs who was absent for a Scottish Parliament vote calling for the UK Government to reverse its decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment.[12]

## Personal life

Grant is married and has a sister for whom she cat-sits.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Rhoda Grant – Regional Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands"](https://www.rhodagrant.org.uk/). 16 June 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-session1_2-0)** ["Previous MSPs: Session 1 (1999-2003): Rhoda Grant"](http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/31605.aspx). Scottish Parliament. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-session3_3-0)** ["Previous MSPs: Session 3 (2007-2011): Rhoda Grant"](http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/26587.aspx). Scottish Parliament. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Loxton, Rachel (23 June 2013). ["Campaigners: 'We need more controls to back up Scottish anti-porn laws'"](http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/campaigners-we-need-more-controls-to-back-up-scottish-anti-porn-laws.21411684). *[Sunday Herald](/source/Sunday_Herald)*. Retrieved 11 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["New Scottish shadow cabinet in full"](https://labourlist.org/2017/12/richard-leonards-new-scottish-shadow-cabinet/). *LabourList*. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Richard Leonard stamps his authority on Scottish Labour with high-stakes reshuffle"](https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/devolution/2018/10/richard-leonard-stamps-his-authority-scottish-labour-high-stakes). *www.newstatesman.com*. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Scottish Labour reshuffle as Sarah Boyack returns to frontline politics"](https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-labour-reshuffle-as-sarah-boyack-returns-to-frontline-politics-1-4995872). *www.scotsman.com*. Retrieved 4 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Scottish Labour reshuffle as Sarah Boyack returns to frontline politics"](https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-labour-reshuffle-as-sarah-boyack-returns-to-frontline-politics-1-4995872). *www.scotsman.com*. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Ponsonby, Bernard (16 November 2020). ["Anas Sarwar returns to Labour frontbench in reshuffle"](https://news.stv.tv/politics/anas-sarwar-returns-to-labour-frontbench-in-reshuffle). *STV News*. Retrieved 18 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Three Scottish Labour MSPs call for Richard Leonard to resign"](https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,three-scottish-labour-msps-call-for-richard-leonard-to-resign). *Holyrood Website*. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Scottish Leadership Election 2021 - Nominations"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230416234857/https://scottishlabour.org.uk/people/2021-leadership-election/nominations/). *Scottish Labour*. Archived from [the original](http://scottishlabour.org.uk/people/2021-leadership-election/nominations/) on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Hutcheon, Paul (9 October 2024). ["Winter Fuel Payment rebel breaks silence on why he defied Anas Sarwar"](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/winter-fuel-payment-rebel-breaks-33853618). *Daily Record*. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Working from home: Rhoda Grant"](https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,working-from-home-rhoda-grant). *Holyrood Website*. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

## External links

- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: [Rhoda Grant](https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/rhoda-grant)

- [Rhoda Grant website](https://www.rhodagrant.org.uk/)

- [Caithness News Bulletins Elections 2007](http://www.caithness.org/fpb/election2007/scottishparliament/index.htm) Caithness Community website

v t e Former Labour Party MSPs By date first representing Scottish Labour in the Scottish Parliament 1999 Wendy Alexander Scott Barrie Sarah Boyack Rhona Brankin Bill Butler Malcolm Chisholm Cathie Craigie Margaret Curran Susan Deacon Donald Dewar Helen Eadie Patricia Ferguson Sam Galbraith Karen Gillon Trish Godman Rhoda Grant Iain Gray Hugh Henry John Home Robertson Janis Hughes Gordon Jackson Sylvia Jackson Cathy Jamieson Margaret Jamieson Andy Kerr Johann Lamont Marilyn Livingstone Jack McConnell Lewis Macdonald Angus MacKay Kate Maclean Ken Macintosh Maureen Macmillan Paul Martin John McAllion Frank McAveety Tom McCabe Baron McConnell of Glenscorrodale Henry McLeish Michael McMahon Duncan McNeil Des McNulty Alasdair Morrison Bristow Muldoon Mary Mulligan Elaine Murray Irene Oldfather Peter Peacock Cathy Peattie Richard Simpson Elaine Smith Elaine Thomson Mike Watson Ian Welsh Karen Whitefield Allan Wilson 2001 Brian Fitzpatrick 2003 Richard Baker Marlyn Glen Christine May 2005 Charlie Gordon 2007 Baron Foulkes of Cumnock James Kelly John Park David Stewart David Whitton 2011 Claudia Beamish Kezia Dugdale Mary Fee Neil Findlay Hanzala Malik Jenny Marra Margaret McCulloch Margaret McDougall Siobhan McMahon Anne McTaggart Graeme Pearson John Pentland Drew Smith 2012 Jayne Baxter 2013 Cara Hilton 2014 Alex Rowley 2016 Lesley Brennan Monica Lennon Richard Leonard Colin Smyth 2021 Foysol Choudhury Pam Duncan-Glancy Paul O'Kane Mercedes Villalba Martin Whitfield 2025 Davy Russell

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rhoda Grant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhoda_Grant) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhoda_Grant?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.