Meet Scotland's new MSPs - including a driving instructor, pianist and outdoor sauna operator

There are 64 new MSPs - 33 constituency members and 31 regional members - who comprise nearly half the total of 129.

Of those preparing for their first day at the Scottish Parliament, 27 are new SNP members with 17 from Reform, ten Liberal Democrats, eight Greens and two Labour, with no new Conservatives elected.

They replace 42 MSPs who quit and 22 who lost their seats to other candidates.

Here’s a selection of those joining the Scottish Parliament for the first time.

Q Manivannan

Dr Q Manivannan is a transgender Tamil immigrant, one of Scotland’s two first trans MSPs, who was born in India and has lived in Scotland since 2021.

They are a former research affiliate at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of St Andrews, a lead arts organiser for the Fill This Space fundraisers for Palestine in Edinburgh, and jointly won the Kavya Prize for Scottish writers of colour in 2023.

After being elected as an Edinburgh and Lothian East list MSP for the Scottish Greens, they said: “I am to some in this country everything that the hateful despise and I am standing here as your MSP now with care.”

Iris Duane

Iris Duane, the other transgender MSP elected for the Scottish Greens, on the Glasgow list, is a community engagement project officer at the University of Glasgow who completes a politics and social and public policy degree this month.

In 2023, aged 21, she was chosen as one of Scotland’s 30 Women under 30 by the Young Women’s Movement for her support for people suffering gender-based violence at the university.

Ms Duane has also campaigned for rent controls and more social housing, and is a “fierce advocate” for public transport to be in public hands, along with cheaper bus and train fares.

Thomas Kerr

Thomas Kerr is among the best-known Reform MSPs to be elected, besides Scottish Party leader Malcolm Offord.

The Glasgow list member quit after six years as Conservative group leader on the city council early in 2025 to join the new party.

He has been a councillor for nine years and stood for the Tories in five General and Scottish elections, having joined the party aged 14.

Kim Schmulian

The former solicitor who was elected for Reform on the Glasgow list manages operations for the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Glasgow and Galloway diocese.

Ms Schmulian is an avid Formula 1 fan who combines holidays with race weekends.

David Green

The Scottish Liberal Democrat who unseated SNP minister Maree Todd in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross is based in Muir of Ord and works for Christian Aid.

He was an adviser to the former party leader Charles Kennedy, who he said had inspired him to stand for election.

He has since worked for Orkney MSP Liam McArthur and the party at Westminster.

Lloyd Melville

Lloyd Melville retained Angus South for the SNP having been an Angus councillor since 2022, when he graduated in history and politics at the University of Stirling.

He has also been a community and outreach officer at the Scottish Parliament, based in Arbroath.

Hannah Mary Goodlad

Shetland’s first SNP MSP Hannah Mary Goodlad is a renewables executive with Norwegian state energy firm Equinor who returned to her homeland to launch an outdoor sauna business, Haar Sauna, with her partner.

She said growing up working on the islands’ fish farms had taught her the values she lives by: “Community, fairness and hard work”.

Ms Goodlad is also a former moderator of the Church of Scotland’s national youth assembly.

After dislodging the seat from the Scottish Liberal Democrats, she told the BBC: “I’m not a career politician and I’m in this to do things differently.”

Jack Middleton

A special adviser to John Swinney, Jack Middleton has retained Aberdeen Central for the SNP previously held by Kevin Stewart.

He has held positions within the party and the Scottish Government over the last ten years, including as special adviser to previous First Minister Humza Yousaf.

He said: “I’ve worked for Holyrood for almost a decade in various roles. I know the buttons to press, I know the levers to pull to get results for Aberdeen Central.”

Simita Kumar

The City of Edinburgh SNP group leader has won the new Edinburgh South Western seat, which replaces the previous SNP-held Pentlands constituency.

Ms Kumar was born in Fiji, moved to Scotland as a teenager and worked for the NHS in public health, becoming a councillor for Southside/Newington in 2022,

She became the first person of colour to lead any group on the council two years ago, and listed ensuring diversity among MSPs among reasons for standing for Holyrood.

Donald MacKinnon

Crofter Donald MacKinnon has won back Western Isles for Labour by defeating former SNP minister Alasdair Allan.

He also manages a community estate and works as a firefighter, and had pledged to continue crofting if elected.

Mr MacKinnon even missed his own fundraiser with Chancellor Rachel Reeves in London in February because he was busy with lambing.

Sanne Dijkstra Downie

Sanne Dijkstra Downie has become the first Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Northern after taking the seat from the SNP.

Born in the Netherlands, she became a city councillor three years ago. She was a fundraiser for climate research and teaching at the University of Edinburgh, where she studied history of art after moving to the capital 24 years ago.

Zen Ghani

The Pollokshields SNP Glasgow city councillor and former caseworker for Nicola Sturgeon retained the Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok seat for the party.

Mr Ghani said his grandparents came to Scotland in the 1950s and that he grew up in care.

He said: “My grandparents shaped me. Through their example, they instilled in me a belief that if you’re given the chance to serve your community, you do it with commitment, honesty, and graft.”

Holly Bruce

The Scottish Greens won their first constituency seat in Scotland’s largest city when city councillor Holly Bruce toppled SNP minister Kaukab Stewart in the Glasgow Southside seat.

The lawyer and former actor, a researcher for former party co-leader Patrick Harvie, wrote a postgrad fashion design law dissertation at the University of Glasgow called The Devil Wears Diet Prada.

As a Langside councillor she has campaigned for the city to adopt a feminist approach to town planning that focuses on women’s safety and mobility.

Gary Bouse

Gary Bouse has retained Falkirk West for the SNP, replacing former minister Michael Matheson.

A Falkirk councillor for the last nine years, he had responsibility for housing, and previously finance.

He started out as an apprentice joiner before working for 40 years in business management.

Adam Harley

Adam Harley defeated the SNP to win Strathkelvin and Bearsden for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

He works at the Scottish Parliament and was previously at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust charity.

Trained at Rada - the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art - he has worked in the theatre and the arts, including for the BBC, and writing and performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Pauline Stafford

Pauline Stafford, who retained the new Bathgate seat for the SNP in her home town, is a professional classical pianist and deputy leader of the opposition group on West Lothian Council.

She still works with the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

She said the cost of living had been a big concern in the campaign: "People here are really struggling. There are huge pressures, which I see a lot through my work as a councillor. But I think people are responding to our positive message.”

Dawn Black

The Aberdeenshire councillor who retained the Angus North and Mearns seat for the SNP is also a driving instructor.

She is a former freelance photographer who once provided photography courses in the Netherlands.

Ms Black said she would support local needs such as agriculture, flood defences, coastal erosion, rural transport, energy, and tourism.