1. Holyrood Class of 2011 Ones to watch
Who will be the star performers of the new Holyrood intake? MHP Communications has produced a list
of those we expect to be the loudest and most listened to in the new Parliament. Some of these will be
familiar faces with new Cabinet or Ministerial positions; others less so, but already showing star potential.
Claudia Beamish MSP (Labour, South of Scotland region)
A former primary school teacher with a strong interest in education and arts
issues, Beamish is the daughter of the Conservative life peer Tufton Victor
Hamilton Beamish, Baron Chelwood. She‟s no stranger to electioneering, having
contested the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat in the 2010
Westminster general election. Chair of the Scottish Labour Party from 2008-
2010, Claudia was on the Scottish Labour Joint Policy Group, tasked with
overseeing their manifesto. The „green goddess‟ of Scottish Labour, she is a
former Chair of the Socialist Environment Resources Association (SERA)
Scotland, revealing a strong commitment to sustainable development and an
anti-nuclear bias. Beamish will put her chairing experience to good use as
convener of the Parliament‟s Equal Opportunities Committee.
Marco Biagi MSP (SNP, Edinburgh Central constituency)
Following the SNP equivalent of the Miliband route, Marco is a former policy
advisor with SNP's parliamentary central staff. Also like the Milibands, he has
strong academic credentials; having been educated at the Universities of St
Andrews, California-Berkeley, Oxford and Glasgow. In a seat that was expected
to go to the Lib Dems, he managed to beat Labour stalwart Sarah Boyack to gain
the Edinburgh Central seat. Boyack had held the redrawn seat in its previous
incarnations since the first Scottish Parliament elections in 1999.
Aileen Campbell MSP, Minister for Local Government & Planning (SNP,
Clydesdale constituency)
At 26 years‟ old on her election, Campbell was the youngest MSP elected to
serve in the 2007–2011 session and is now the youngest Minister. Former roles
include national convener of the SNP youth wing, editor of construction
magazine Keystone and researcher for SNP parliamentarians Nicola Sturgeon,
Shona Robison and Stewart Hosie. With delivery of some of the key SNP
manifesto pledges resting with local authorities and the business community‟s
keen eye on planning reform, Campbell‟s performance will be scrutinised closely.
Ruth Davidson MSP (Conservative, Glasgow region)
As evidenced during the election campaign, Davidson‟s journalistic background
(much of which with BBC Scotland) makes her a polished media performer and
we expect these communication skills to be put to good use in the Parliament.
Currently her party‟s Culture spokesperson, Davidson also has a keen interest in
international development. Third time lucky, she stood unsuccessfully in Glasgow
North East at the 2009 by-election and 2010 general election and is tipped to be
a future leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

2. Kezia Dugdale MSP (Labour, Lothian region)
Despite her relative youth, Dugdale is a longstanding Labourite, having led the
parliamentary office for George Foulkes MSP and as election agent to Sarah
Boyack MSP and Sheila Gilmore MP. She has also served time as a public
affairs professional within the higher education field. Like Joan McAlpine, she is a
frequent blogger – this level of activity will only increase now she is an MSP.
Jim Eadie MSP (SNP, Edinburgh Southern constituency)
Poacher turned gamekeeper, former public affairs consultant Jim Eadie has a
strong background in health policy. He was previously head of the medicines
industry trade association, ABPI Scotland and has worked for the Royal College
of Nursing. He also helped establish the All Party UK Warm Homes Group at
Westminster to campaign against fuel poverty.
Annabelle Ewing (SNP, Mid Scotland & Fife region)
Newly-elected MSP Annabel Ewing is the „princess‟ of the Ewing family – the
SNP‟s political dynasty. Previously an MP for Perth, Annabel will now be looking
to make her mark in Holyrood, and with her legal background she‟s unlikely to
shy away from a heated debate.
Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise & Tourism (SNP,
Inverness & Nairn constituency)
Fergus is the son of the veteran Scottish Nationalist Winnie Ewing; sister of
Annabel (above) and his late wife was Margaret Ewing MSP. Previously Minister
for Community Safety, Fergus has now taken the higher profile reins of the
Energy, Enterprise and Tourism brief. Like his predecessor, Jim Mather, he is
regarded as „pro-business‟ and will be key in pushing forward the Government‟s
green energy agenda and cutting red tape.
John Finnie MSP (SNP, Highlands & Islands region)
Local councillor and former SNP Group Leader on Highland Council, Finnie
served for 30 years in the police service – the last fourteen of which as a full-time
official with the Scottish Police Federation – making him no stranger to lobbying.
He was the SNP‟s Westminster candidate for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and
Strathspey in the last general election and has interests spanning a number of
policy areas; positions have included a seat on the NHS Highland Leadership
Board and Directorships with Highland Homeless Trust and Eden Court Theatre.
So we can expect immediate interest in health and wellbeing, justice and culture
for starters.
Alison Johnstone MSP (Green, Lothian region)
A councillor for the Meadows/Morningside ward for the City of Edinburgh Council,
Alison is another new-entrant already au fait with the workings of Holyrood,
having been the assistant to Robin Harper MSP, Britain‟s first Green
parliamentarian. One of only two Green MSPs in the Parliament, she‟ll be keen to
get their policy views heard.
Derek Mackay MSP (SNP, Renfrewshire North and West constituency)
The Leader of Renfrewshire Council (who will continue in this role until the local
government elections next May, but donate his councillor salary to charity) has
already hit the ground running on the parliamentary front. He‟s a member of the
Scottish Parliament‟s Finance Committee and, only a few weeks into the job, has
been placed in the media spotlight; arguing the case for independence on STV‟s
Politics Now.

3. Jenny Marra MSP (Labour, North East Scotland region)
A qualified lawyer, PR-savvy Dundonian and sister of Scottish Labour advisor
Michael Marra, Jenny‟s previous roles have included Head of Press at Dundee
University and acting as a spokesperson for the Labour MEPs. Not afraid to
address political „hot potatoes‟, she took an opposing view to her Labour
colleague Thomas Docherty MP on the AV referendum, voting „ yes‟ and arguing
the case against his „no‟ stance.
Joan McAlpine MSP (SNP, South of Scotland region)
Scotsman columnist and prolific, award-winning blogger, Joan is unlikely to be a
shrinking violet in the Parliament. She used her maiden speech to address
devolution of the Crown Estate Commission – “the injustice of one remote
organisation taxing and controlling the seabed is unjust...”, but her interests span
across the policy spectrum.
Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment
(SNP, Airdrie and Shotts constituency)
Alex Neil is a familiar face in the Scottish Parliament and respected across the
political spectrum. Now MSP for Airdrie and Shotts constituency, his previous
roles have included Minister for Housing and Communities and Convener of the
Parliament‟s Enterprise & lifelong Learning Committee. Before „jumping ship‟ to
the SNP, Neil joined the Labour Party in the mid 1960s, including a spell as
Senior Researcher for the Labour Party in Scotland. Now with the newly-created
Infrastructure and Capital Investment portfolio, all eyes will be on Neil in the
current economic climate.
Willie Rennie, (Lib Dem, Mid Scotland and Fife region)
Former lobbyist and MP for Dunfermline, Willie Rennie is no political novice.
Used to „cracking the whip‟, Rennie has been Chief Executive of the Scottish Lib
Dems and Chief of Staff for the party in Holyrood. Rennie has been a runner-up
in the „Scottish Coal Carrying Championships‟ and is a keen hill runner; which
should come in useful given the mountain his party will have to climb in regaining
favour with the Scottish electorate.
Humza Yousaf (SNP, Glasgow region)
A new MSP, but well-versed in the workings of the Scottish Parliament, Yousaf
worked for Scotland‟s first Muslim MSP, the late Bashir Ahmed. He has also
worked for First Minister Alex Salmond and his Deputy, Nicola Sturgeon. With
such „friends in high places‟, Yousaf looks like a good bet to join the ministerial
ranks in the future.
To find out more about how MHP Communications can help you navigate the new Scottish
political landscape, contact Craig Harrow or June Deasy on 0131 226 3333,
e-mail craig.harrow@mhpc.com | june.deasy@mhpc.com