# Sarah Boyack

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Scottish Labour politician (born 1961)

Sarah Boyack Official portrait, 2019 Minister for Transport and Planning[a] In office 19 May 1999 – 27 November 2001 First Minister Donald Dewar Jim Wallace (acting) Henry McLeish Preceded by Office established Succeeded by Wendy Alexander Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothian (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) In office 15 July 2019 – 9 April 2026 Preceded by Kezia Dugdale[b] In office 5 May 2011 – 23 March 2016 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central In office 6 May 1999 – 22 March 2011 Preceded by Constituency established Succeeded by Marco Biagi Scottish Labour portfolios 2014–2016 Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment 2019–2021 Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government 2021–present Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Personal details Born Sarah Herriot Boyack (1961-05-16) 16 May 1961 (age 65) Glasgow, Scotland Party Scottish Labour Co-operative Spouse Andrew Walters ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2003)​ Alma mater University of Glasgow Heriot-Watt University Profession Town planner Website www.sarahboyack.com

**Sarah Herriot Boyack** (born 16 May 1961) is a [Scottish Labour](/source/Scottish_Labour) politician who served as a [Member of the Scottish Parliament](/source/Member_of_the_Scottish_Parliament) (MSP) for the [Lothian](/source/Lothian_(Scottish_Parliament_electoral_region)) region from 2019 to [2026](/source/2026_Scottish_Parliament_election), and previously from [2011](/source/2011_Scottish_Parliament_election) to [2016](/source/2016_Scottish_Parliament_election). She formerly represented the [Edinburgh Central](/source/Edinburgh_Central_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)) constituency from [1999](/source/1999_Scottish_Parliament_election) to 2011.

## Early life and career

Boyack was born in May 1961 in [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow) and brought up in [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh).[1][2] Her father, Jim Boyack, was an important figure in the Labour Party and the campaign for [Scottish devolution](/source/Scottish_devolution).[3] She was educated at the state comprehensive [Royal High School, Edinburgh](/source/Royal_High_School%2C_Edinburgh), where she was one of the first female pupils.[2]

Starting in 1979, Boyack studied [Modern History](/source/Modern_History) and [Politics](/source/Political_science) at the [University of Glasgow](/source/University_of_Glasgow), graduating with a [Scottish MA](/source/Scottish_MA) Honours degree.[4] She became active in the Labour club, where she was a protégé of [Margaret Curran](/source/Margaret_Curran). She was chair of the Labour club from 1981 until 1982, and chair of the [National Organisation of Labour Students](/source/National_Organisation_of_Labour_Students) from 1985 until 1986. During her time at Glasgow, she was involved in supporting the twinning with [Bir Zeit University](/source/Bir_Zeit_University) in the [West Bank](/source/West_Bank). After graduating, she gained a [Diploma](/source/Diploma) in [Town and Country Planning](/source/Town_and_Country_Planning) at [Heriot-Watt University](/source/Heriot-Watt_University).[4]

Boyack worked as a [town planner](/source/Town_planner) in the [London Borough of Brent](/source/London_Borough_of_Brent) then as a strategic planner in [Central Regional Council](/source/Central_Regional_Council) in Stirling.[5] She then became a lecturer at the School of Planning and Housing at [Heriot-Watt University](/source/Heriot-Watt_University) and was Convener of the Scottish Branch of the [Royal Town Planning Institute](/source/Royal_Town_Planning_Institute) in 1997.[6]

## Political career

### Member of the Scottish Parliament: 1999–2016

Boyack was elected to the new [Scottish Parliament](/source/Scottish_Parliament) in the [1999 election](/source/1999_Scottish_Parliament_election) for the [Edinburgh Central](/source/Edinburgh_Central_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)) constituency. She was Minister for Transport and the Environment in the [Scottish Executive](/source/Scottish_Executive) from 1999 until 2000. Then, she was Minister for Transport and Planning from 2000 until 2001, during which time she introduced one of Scottish Labour's flagship policies of [free bus travel](/source/Free_travel_pass) for people over 60 and disabled people.[2] While in this role, Boyack was the second minister to face a [vote of no confidence in the Scottish Parliament](/source/Confidence_motions_in_the_Scottish_Parliament).[7] The motion was lodged by the [Scottish National Party](/source/Scottish_National_Party) (SNP) as they objected to the Executive awarding trunk road maintenance contracts to private companies rather than [local authorities](/source/Local_government_in_Scotland). Boyack survived this vote as only 33 MSPs voted in favour with 70 voting against, and 16 MSPs abstaining.[8]

Re-elected for her constituency in the [2003 Scottish Parliament election](/source/2003_Scottish_Parliament_election), Boyack was elected by MSPs as Convener of the Scottish Parliament [Environment and Rural Development Committee](/source/Committees_of_the_Scottish_Parliament) in June 2003. In this role, she received the RSPB Goldcrest Award in November 2004 for the most outstanding contribution to the development of environmental policy in Scotland since devolution.[9] Later, in December 2005, she was named the Scottish Renewables Best Politician.[2] She stood down from the committee in January 2007, when she returned to the Scottish Executive as Deputy Minister for the Environment and Rural Development.[10]

Boyack lost her Edinburgh Central constituency seat in the [2011 Scottish Parliament election](/source/2011_Scottish_Parliament_election) to [Marco Biagi](/source/Marco_Biagi_(politician)) of the SNP. However, she was elected on the [Lothian](/source/Lothian_(Scottish_Parliament_electoral_region)) regional list as one of seven additional members. Following a [landslide victory](/source/Landslide_victory) by the SNP in the election, Boyack co-chaired a [review of the Labour Party in Scotland](/source/Review_of_the_Labour_Party_in_Scotland) with [Jim Murphy](/source/Jim_Murphy), commissioned by [Ed Miliband](/source/Ed_Miliband) in May 2011 and which reported back in Autumn of that year.[11][12]

On 28 October 2014, Boyack declared she would stand in [the upcoming election](/source/2014_Scottish_Labour_leadership_election) to become the [Leader of the Scottish Labour Party](/source/Leader_of_the_Scottish_Labour_Party).[3][13] She came third to [Jim Murphy](/source/Jim_Murphy) and [Neil Findlay](/source/Neil_Findlay) with 9.24% of the vote.[14]

She served as a member of the Parliament's Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee during its scrutiny of the [Land Reform](/source/Land_Reform) Bill 2015.[15]

### Outside the Scottish Parliament: 2016–2019

Boyack again contested the Edinburgh Central seat in the [2016 Scottish Parliament election](/source/2016_Scottish_Parliament_election), but was defeated by [Scottish Conservative](/source/Scottish_Conservative) leader [Ruth Davidson](/source/Ruth_Davidson), who stood for the same constituency. Boyack was also placed third on the Lothian regional list of Labour candidates behind [Kezia Dugdale](/source/Kezia_Dugdale) and [Neil Findlay](/source/Neil_Findlay), but did not return to Holyrood following the election since Labour won only two list seats.[16][17]

In February 2017, Boyack was appointed as Head of Public Affairs at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the membership body for social housing providers in Scotland.[18]

### Return following Kezia Dugdale's resignation: 2019–present

On 30 April 2019, it was announced Boyack would return to the Scottish Parliament as a list MSP, following [Kezia Dugdale](/source/Kezia_Dugdale)'s decision to vacate her seat in the summer. As an unsuccessful Labour candidate on the [Lothian regional list](/source/Lothian_(Scottish_Parliament_electoral_region)) in 2016, Boyack was the next person on the list if a seat was vacated.[19] She joined the [Labour Co-operative](/source/Labour_Co-operative) group upon her return.[20] In September 2019, Scottish Labour leader [Richard Leonard](/source/Richard_Leonard) appointed her as [Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Local Government](/source/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Communities_and_Local_Government).[21]

Boyack nominated [Anas Sarwar](/source/Anas_Sarwar) in the [2021 Scottish Labour leadership election](/source/2021_Scottish_Labour_leadership_election).[22]

Boyack backed the UK Government's decision to introduce means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment, voting in the Scottish Parliament against calls to reverse the decision.[23]

On 16 June 2025, Boyack announced she would not contest the [2026 Holyrood election](/source/2026_Scottish_Parliament_election).[24]

## Personal life

Boyack married former long-term partner Andrew Walters in December 2000. They had planned to marry in the October but postponed the wedding due to the death of [Donald Dewar](/source/Donald_Dewar). The couple divorced in 2003 and they had no children together.[25]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Transport and the Environment (1999–2000)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Normally, regional MSPs do not have individual predecessors and successors. However, Dugdale retired her seat during a sitting parliament so was succeeded by Boyack.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Sarah Herriot BOYACK – Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)"](https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/cBI3t3Kk4SAU0VJOtf0VHxgZYKo/appointments). *beta.companieshouse.gov.uk*. Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lothianlife-20080522_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lothianlife-20080522_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-lothianlife-20080522_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-lothianlife-20080522_4-3) Christine Richard (22 May 2008). ["Sarah Boyack's glass is not just half full – it's positively fizzing!"](http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/2008/05/sarah-boyacks-glass-is-not-just-half-full-%E2%80%93-its-positively-fizzing/). *Lothian Life*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171121150341/http://www.lothianlife.co.uk/2008/05/sarah-boyacks-glass-is-not-just-half-full-%E2%80%93-its-positively-fizzing/) from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bbc-20141104_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bbc-20141104_5-1) ["Profile: Sarah Boyack, Scottish Labour leadership candidate"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29878869). BBC. 4 November 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141110112652/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29878869) from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sp-persinfo_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sp-persinfo_6-1) ["Sarah Boyack – Personal Information"](http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/27308.aspx). Scottish Parliament. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141106231349/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/currentmsps/27308.aspx) from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-hm-201203_7-0)** Kate Shannon (March 2012). ["A new brief puts the focus on spending prioities"](http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1w5as/HolyroodmagazineIssu/resources/15.htm). *Holyrood Magazine Supplement*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129062403/http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1w5as/HolyroodmagazineIssu/resources/15.htm) from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["About Sarah | Sarah Boyack"](http://www.sarahboyack4leader.com/about-sarah/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141129012148/http://www.sarahboyack4leader.com/about-sarah/) from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Boyack rides out confidence vote"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1170997.stm). 15 February 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Labour rebels save Boyack Transport minister survives SNP's no confidence motion"](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12233532.labour-rebels-save-boyack-transport-minister-survives-snps-no-confidence-motion/). *The Herald*. 16 February 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Centenary awards – The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051101191319/http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/centenary/awards/index.asp). Archived from [the original](http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/centenary/awards/index.asp) on 1 November 2005. Retrieved 29 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["New Communities Minister"](http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/01/09112513). Scotland.gov.uk. 9 January 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Wintour, Patrick (11 May 2011). ["Ed Miliband orders review of Scottish Labour party"](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/may/11/ed-miliband-reivew-scottish-labour-party). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Rivals braced for Labour leadership race"](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/rivals-braced-for-labour-leadership-race-5xggh3z90p8). *[The Times](/source/The_Times)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0140-0460](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0140-0460). Retrieved 14 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bbc-20141028_15-0)** ["Scottish Labour leadership: MSP Sarah Boyack is first candidate to stand"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29802723). BBC. 28 October 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141029033846/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29802723) from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["MP Jim Murphy named Scottish Labour leader"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30461687). BBC. 13 December 2014. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141213112020/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-30461687) from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Gibson, Rob](/source/Rob_Gibson) (2020), *Reclaiming Our Land*, Highland Heritage Educational Trust, p. 219, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781527281813](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781527281813)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** McPherson, Gareth (6 May 2016). ["Holyrood no more — eight former MSPs who will be looking for new jobs"](https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/168160/holyrood-no-eight-former-msps-will-looking-new-jobs/). *The Courier*. D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160507125349/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/168160/holyrood-no-eight-former-msps-will-looking-new-jobs/) from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Swanson, Ian (6 May 2016). ["Holyrood 2016: Lothian list MSPs in full"](http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/holyrood-2016-lothian-list-msps-in-full-1-4120672). *Edinburgh Evening News*. Johnston Press. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160507122622/http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/holyrood-2016-lothian-list-msps-in-full-1-4120672) from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Former Labour MSP appointed as head of public affairs at SFHA"](https://www.holyrood.com/articles/news/former-labour-msp-appointed-head-public-affairs-sfha). *Holyrood Magazine*. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Sarah Boyack to return to Holyrood as Labour MSP"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48110592). *BBC News*. BBC. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["Annual Review 2019"](https://party.coop/publication/co-operative-party-annual-review-2019/). [Co-operative Party](/source/Co-operative_Party). Retrieved 16 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["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 17 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["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 24 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["How every MSP voted as Holyrood rejected the UK's Winter Fuel Payment cut"](https://www.thenational.scot/news/24639083.winter-fuel-payment-cuts-full-list-labour-msps-oppose/). *The National*. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** ["Labour MSP Sarah Boyack to stand down at election"](https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,labour-msp-sarah-boyack-to-stand-down-at-election). *Holyrood Website*. 15 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** ["Boyack separates from husband"](https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/boyack-separates-from-husband-1-652761). *The Scotsman*. 21 June 2003. Retrieved 14 March 2020.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

## External links

- [sarahboyack.com](http://www.sarahboyack.com/) Constituency website

- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: [Sarah Boyack](https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/sarah-boyack)

- [19 March 2011](https://web.archive.org/web/20110506151110/http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/speech-to-scottish-conference-by-sarah-boyack-msp) Speech on environment and rural affairs at the Scottish Labour website

- [Sarah Boyack](https://web.archive.org/web/20100730132329/http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/msp/sarah_boyack/745/) Biography at the Scottish Labour website

- [theyworkforyou.com](https://www.theyworkforyou.com/msp/sarah_boyack)

- [Voting Record — Sarah Boyack MSP, Edinburgh Central](https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Sarah_Boyack&mpc=Edinburgh_Central&house=scotland)

- [Scottish Federation of Housing Associations](https://www.sfha.co.uk/who-we-are/staff) Staff page of Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Scottish Parliament New parliament Scotland Act 1998 Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central 1999–2011 Succeeded by Marco Biagi Political offices New office Minister for Transport and the Environment 1999–2000 Office abolished Minister for Transport and Planning 2000–2001 Succeeded by Wendy Alexander as Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Preceded by Alex Johnstone Convener of the Scottish Parliament Environment and Rural Development Committee 2003–2007 Succeeded by Maureen Macmillan Preceded by Rhona Brankin Deputy Minister for the Environment and Rural Development 2007 Succeeded by Michael Russell as Minister for Environment

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

v t e 2014 Scottish Labour leadership election Outgoing Leader: Johann Lamont MSP Winner Jim Murphy Other nominees Sarah Boyack MSP Neil Findlay MSP

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