Skip to main content
Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

Sarah Boyack

Scottish Labour

MSP for Lothian (Region) 2019 - present day

Former MSP for Lothian (Region) 2011 - 2016

Former MSP for Edinburgh Central (Constituency) 1999 - 2011

About Sarah Boyack

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6994
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Sarah is a member of 15 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Circular Economy

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Palestine

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wellbeing Economy

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Sarah has 1 parliamentary and government role

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive

Member

Party Roles

Sarah has 3 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Energy

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Just Transition

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Net Zero

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Sarah has had 39 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

17 June 2021 - 25 April 2023

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

Member

22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023

Local Government Housing and Planning Committee

Substitute Member

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on the Constitution

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on External Affairs

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Labour

01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Environment

Scottish Labour

01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Climate Change

Scottish Labour

01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Land Reform

Scottish Labour

25 September 2019 - 04 May 2021

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Substitute Member

11 September 2019 - 04 May 2021

Local Government and Communities Committee

Deputy Convener

02 September 2019 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Local Government

Scottish Labour

05 February 2020 - 25 February 2020

Finance and Constitution Committee

Substitute Member

10 September 2019 - 11 September 2019

Local Government and Communities Committee

Member

06 January 2015 - 23 March 2016

Policy Forum/Manifesto Co-ordinator

Scottish Labour

19 August 2015 - 23 March 2016

Party Spokesperson on Environmental Justice

Scottish Labour

08 January 2015 - 23 March 2016

Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee

Member

16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015

Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Labour

16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Labour

03 September 2013 - 08 January 2015

Local Government and Regeneration Committee

Substitute Member

19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014

Party Spokesperson on Local Government

Scottish Labour

19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014

Party Spokesperson on Planning

Scottish Labour

20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011

Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Labour

20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Labour

17 September 2007 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Labour

17 September 2007 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Labour

13 June 2007 - 20 September 2007

Rural Affairs and Environment Committee

Member

18 May 2007 - 17 September 2007

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Labour

11 January 2007 - 17 May 2007

Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development

Scottish Government

10 June 2003 - 15 January 2007

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Convener

10 June 2003 - 15 January 2007

conveners group

Member

04 June 2003 - 10 June 2003

Environment and Rural Development Committee

Member

06 March 2003 - 31 March 2003

European and External Relations Committee

Member

31 October 2002 - 31 March 2003

Audit Committee

Member

26 September 2002 - 31 March 2003

Social Justice Committee

Substitute Member

29 November 2001 - 05 March 2003

European Committee

Member

07 March 2002 - 27 June 2002

Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Bill Committee

Member

21 March 2001 - 28 November 2001

Minister for Transport and Planning

Scottish Government

02 November 2000 - 21 March 2001

Minister for Transport and Telecommunications

Scottish Government

19 May 1999 - 01 November 2000

Minister for Transport and the Environment

Scottish Government

Register of interests

Sarah's register of interests

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.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Sarah Boyack has said in Parliament

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: 11 September 2025

Scottish Youth Parliament (Work on Transport)

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "It is a real honour to open this important members’ business debate on the contribution of the Scottish Youth Parliament to our evolving transport system…

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2025

Decision Time

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the voting system. I would have voted no."

Chamber meeting date: 9 September 2025

Scotland’s Railway (20 Years)

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "I welcome today’s debate, because there is huge interest across the chamber in improving our rail services right across Scotland, including in the Lothians. Communities such as Winchburgh have been promised a station for years…

Chamber meeting date: 9 September 2025

Decision Time

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I voted yes, but my app is displaying the message: “The item is ready to be voted on.” I want to check that my vote has been counted."

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 9 September 2025

Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Scottish Carbon Budgets) Amendment Regulations 2025 [Draft]

Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): "My questions will focus on the projected impacts of climate change in Scotland over the next 10, 20 and 50 years. How do we begin to plan for that, and which of the changes are likely to be the most significant…

Votes

How Sarah Boyack has voted in Parliament

Find out how Sarah Boyack has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-18795

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Supported by: Richard Lochhead
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 60 for, 49 against, 7 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18795.1

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 23 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-18795.3

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 26 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-18780.3

Impact of Accommodating Asylum Seekers on Scottish Local Government

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Result 72 for, 45 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18780

Impact of Accommodating Asylum Seekers on Scottish Local Government

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 8, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Result 91 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Sarah Boyack has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6W-39738

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths have been reported where the cause of death was sepsis, either on its own or alongside other factors, in each month of the past 10 years."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 August 2025

Question ref. S6W-39345

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the funding to support a just transition for Scotland is structured as (a) grants and (b) loans or investments, and what its position is on how these proportions impact the sustainability of job creation."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 August 2025

Question ref. S6W-39344

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the reported findings of the independent evaluation of the Just Transition Fund, what its position is on how spending £43 million of public money to create 110 jobs can be justified, in light of reports of workers and communities in north east Scotland continuing to experience job insecurity and…

Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 August 2025

Question ref. S6W-39343

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported finding of the independent evaluation of the Just Transition Fund that it has, to date, delivered limited, temporary and precarious employment outcomes, and what immediate steps it will take to ensure that the fund delivers secure, sustainable jobs for workers and communities in…

Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 July 2025

Question ref. S6W-39342

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what changes it will make to the design and delivery of the Just Transition Fund, in light of reported concerns regarding the findings of the independent evaluation that it commissioned in relation to transparency, administrative complexity and a lack of multi-year funding to support sustainable outcomes to deliver a…

Answered by Gillian Martin on 29 July 2025

Question ref. S6W-38632

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in developing the Musselburgh Flood Prevention Scheme."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-38633

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it will release its promised financial support for the Musselburgh Flood Prevention Scheme."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-38272

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation process being carried out by Transport Scotland on lessons to be learned from experience in England and Wales regarding the effectiveness of moving traffic enforcement, including the experience in school streets, will begin."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04767

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to local authorities to enable them to implement their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies."

Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-36160

Asked by: Boyack, Sarah, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to preserve traditionally built homes and to make them wind and weathertight in an energy-efficient manner, in light of the need to reduce carbon emissions across all housing stock."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

Share this page