Photo © Scottish Parliament
Former Member of the Scottish Parliament
Michelle Thomson
Unknown party
At a glance Michelle Thomson was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 2,903 Holyrood divisions on record; Michelle Thomson did not vote in 56.
Voting record
The most recent divisions Michelle Thomson voted in. For, Against and Abstain are as recorded.
| 24 Mar 2026 | Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Railways Bill - UK Legislation | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill | For |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s 8th Report, 2026 (Session 6) | For |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Business Programme | For |
Questions
Michelle Thomson has tabled 115 questions in the Scottish Parliament.
To ask the Scottish Government how the £9 million being invested in the Food and Drink Processing Scheme Scotland…
To ask the Scottish Government how the £9 million being invested in the Food and Drink Processing Scheme Scotland will help businesses to increase productivity, improve efficiency, and invest in new equipment and technology.
Awaiting an answer.
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the CashBack for Communities programme as it enters Phase 7.
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the CashBack for Communities programme as it enters Phase 7.
Awaiting an answer.
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of warnings from industry leaders that high …
To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of warnings from industry leaders that high transmission charges are making wind farms in the north of Scotland uncompetitive, including any implications for its work to grow the renewable energy sector.
Awaiting an answer.
To ask the First Minister how often he or the Scottish Ministers engage with the Scottish Government’s Washington…
To ask the First Minister how often he or the Scottish Ministers engage with the Scottish Government’s Washington DC International Office regarding the Scotch whisky industry and other economic interests in the United States.
Awaiting an answer.
To ask the Scottish Government how many retail properties that are liable for the (a) basic and (b) intermediate proper…
To ask the Scottish Government how many retail properties that are liable for the (a) basic and (b) intermediate property rate in 2026-27 will receive support from the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors rates relief, which was set out in its draft Budget 2026-27.
Answer · Ivan McKee · 5 Feb 2026
Internal Scottish Government estimates are that up to around 19,100 retail properties could benefit from the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors reliefs set out in the draft Budget 2026-27, subject to take-up and the business level cap of £110,000. Based on draft valuations by Scottish Assessors, of these, around 17,500 will be liable for the Basic Property Rate (BPR) and 1,600 will be liable for the Intermediate Property Rate (IPR)[1] in 2026-27.The identification of retail properties is based on property classifications, as industry sector classifications are not available.Property classifications used by the Scottish Assessors to describe the type of a property may not accurately reflect its use. For example, a property classified as a ‘shop’ may in fact be used to offer financial services.[1] These figures have been estimated using data from the Scottish Assessor’s Association’s draft roll for 2026-27 as at 11 December 2025.
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from representatives of the retail industry in resp…
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received from representatives of the retail industry in response to the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors rates relief from April 2026, which was set out in its draft Budget 2026-27.
Answer · Ivan McKee · 5 Feb 2026
The Scottish Government has regular engagement with the retail sector including through the Non-Domestic Rates Consultative Group.
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact might be for retail properties that are liable for the (a) basic a…
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact might be for retail properties that are liable for the (a) basic and (b) intermediate rate in each of the next three years as a result of the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors rates relief from April 2026, which was set out in its draft Budget 2026-27.
Answer · Ivan McKee · 5 Feb 2026
Internal Scottish Government estimates are that up to 37,000 properties could benefit from the proposed retail, hospitality and leisure sectors reliefs set out in the draft Budget 2026-27, subject to take-up and the business level cap of £110,000. Table 1 provides a further breakdown by sector and by liability for the Basic Property Rate (BPR) and Intermediate Property Rate (IPR) respectively.The Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts this relief to be worth £44m in 2026-27[1]. This figure accounts for both the business level cap and the overall assumed take-up.The cap of £110,000 per business on the annual value of non-domestic rates reduction that a business can benefit from thanks to retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) on its properties in Scotland is set across all properties that a business is liable for and that qualify for the relief. The cap is, therefore, dependent on the combined value of RHL relief awarded to properties in these sectors. As some businesses have properties in multiple sectors or that are liable for different rates, it is not possible to accurately estimate a breakdown of the value of the proposed relief between sectors and rate liable.Table 1: Number of properties that could benefit from the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief in 2026-27 by sector and rate[2] RetailHospitalityLeisureAllof which BPR17,50013,4002,20033,100of which IPR1,6001,6003003,500Total19,10015,0002,50036,600[1]See Figure S4.23, Tax Supplementary Figures, Scotland’s Economic and Fiscal Forecasts – January 2026 | Scottish Fiscal Commission.[2] These figures are subject to take-up and the application of the £110,000 business level cap. They have been estimated using data from the Scottish Assessor’s Association’s draft roll for 2026-27 as at 11 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of its plans to add sex to the characteristics covered by the…
To ask the Scottish Government what the current status is of its plans to add sex to the characteristics covered by the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021.
Awaiting an answer.
Motions lodged
Speeches
Recent things Michelle Thomson has said in the chamber and in committee, from the Official Report.
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
I am pleased to hear about the Government’s plans, especially its provision of additional capital investment to help businesses to expand and attract further investment, which will ultimately ensure that the sector remains a powerhouse for…
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
I am pleased to hear about the Government’s plans, especially its provision of additional capital investment to help businesses to expand and attract further investment, which will ultimately ensure that the sector remains a powerhouse for…
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government how the £9 million being invested in the food and drink processing scheme Scotland will help businesses to increase productivity, improve efficiency, and invest in new equipment and technology. (S6O-05696)
25 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
To ask the Scottish Government how the £9 million being invested in the food and drink processing scheme Scotland will help businesses to increase productivity, improve efficiency, and invest in new equipment and technology. (S6O-05696)
17 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill (draft)
This will be my last speech in this chamber, and I am proud that it is in a debate on this bill—one where we are all free to be colleagues acting on behalf of our fellow Scots, regardless of our view or our vote at decision time.I will beg…
17 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
This will be my last speech in this chamber, and I am proud that it is in a debate on this bill—one where we are all free to be colleagues acting on behalf of our fellow Scots, regardless of our view or our vote at decision time.I will beg…
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill (draft)
I will start my short remarks by popping in the intervention that I hoped to make on Willie Rennie. I hope that he will join me in my calls for an adjustment to the fiscal framework to remove the ridiculous limits on the Scottish Governmen…
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill
I will start my short remarks by popping in the intervention that I hoped to make on Willie Rennie. I hope that he will join me in my calls for an adjustment to the fiscal framework to remove the ridiculous limits on the Scottish Governmen…
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill (draft)
Will the member take an intervention?
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill
Will the member take an intervention?
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
As a point of accuracy, surely Michael Marra recognises that it is complete nonsense to use population share to arrive at a figure of £30 million.
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
As a point of accuracy, surely Michael Marra recognises that it is complete nonsense to use population share to arrive at a figure of £30 million.
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I rise to speak to amendments 8, 10 and 15 in regard to a crucial part of the residential housing market: first-time buyers. At stage 2—I stand by this—I noted“the vital role of first-time buyers in keeping the housing market viable”and sa…
17 Mar 2026 Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I rise to speak to amendments 8, 10 and 15 in regard to a crucial part of the residential housing market: first-time buyers. At stage 2—I stand by this—I noted“the vital role of first-time buyers in keeping the housing market viable”and sa…
12 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I must admit that I am struggling to understand the member’s point about a decision being made through the courts. The Montgomery ruling, which goes back to 2015, set out quite clearly what doctors must do. Why would it be a decision for t…
12 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I must admit that I am struggling to understand the member’s point about a decision being made through the courts. The Montgomery ruling, which goes back to 2015, set out quite clearly what doctors must do. Why would it be a decision for t…
12 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
I must admit that I am struggling to understand the member’s point about a decision being made through the courts. The Montgomery ruling, which goes back to 2015, set out quite clearly what doctors must do. Why would it be a decision for t…
11 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
Does the minister agree that work in early prevention and a focus on improving young people’s wellbeing is critical to reducing both the risk of offending and reoffending, which, in turn, benefits our communities?
11 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
Does the minister agree that work in early prevention and a focus on improving young people’s wellbeing is critical to reducing both the risk of offending and reoffending, which, in turn, benefits our communities?
11 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the cashback for communities programme as it enters phase 7. (S6O-05622)
Seat & career
- Falkirk East Constituency MSP · Dissolution 6 May 2021 – 8 Apr 2026
Allowances
2025 (latest published)
Source: Scottish Parliament (published ~1 year in arrears)
Contact & offices
Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.