Emma Roddick
MSP
Emma Roddick in the Scottish Parliament on 13 May 2021
Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees
Assumed office
29 March 2023
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
Preceded byChristina McKelvie
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
Assumed office
8 May 2021
Personal details
Born (1997-07-30) 30 July 1997
Political partyScottish National Party

Emma Roddick (born 30 July 1997) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician serving as the Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees since 2023.[1] She has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Highlands and Islands since May 2021.

Early life

Roddick was born to Sue, a social worker, and Davy Roddick and lived in Alness from an early age.[2] Both of her parents had died by the time she was elected in May 2021. She formerly worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service.[3]

Roddick, who has Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and PTSD,[4] started a petition in 2017 to improve the available services from Scotland's NHS24 helpline.[5] In 2020 the campaign proved successful, and NHS 24 added option 3 to their service.[6]

Political career

In November 2019 she was elected in a by-election as a Councillor, representing the Inverness Central ward of the Highland Council.[7] Shortly after starting her campaign, she became the target of mostly anonymous online death and rape threats,[8] and had her home broken into twice.[9] The month before, she refused to sign a petition opposing the Gender Recognition Act reforms, claiming the petition had "transphobic undertones".[10][9]

On 8 May 2021 she was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Highlands and Islands.[11] She was one of the youngest candidates seeking election, and the youngest MSP elected.[12][13]

After her election in 2021, Roddick, who had been homeless in the past, spoke about the financial burdens of running for office which provide barriers to young and working-class people running,[13] and highlighted the initial cost of being an MSP.[14]

In 2023, she was appointed to the Yousaf government as Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees.[15]

Personal life

Roddick plays the fiddle.[16] She lives in Merkinch in Inverness[17] and identifies as bisexual.[18][19]

References

  1. ↑ "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Glen, Louise (27 January 2021). "'She touched the lives of so many' – tributes paid to Highland social worker". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Dixon, Andrew (14 October 2019). "SNP announce Inverness Central ward by-election candidate for Highland Council seat". The Inverness Courier. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Garavelli, Dani (12 May 2021). "Scotland will benefit from its newly diverse parliament". the Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Henderson, Michelle (27 October 2017). "Mental health campaign thrives into action". Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals Ltd. DC Thomson Media. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Inverness councillor Emma Roddick delighted with mental health campaign success". 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Macaulay, Susy (15 November 2019). "SNP take Inverness Central ward by massive margin". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Macaulay, Susy (20 December 2019). "Online bullying and abuse an everyday event for Highland councillors". Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals Ltd. DC Thomson Media. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  9. 1 2 Rodger, Hannah (8 December 2019). "Police investigating fake Joanna Cherry violence threat posts". HeraldScotland. Herald and Times Group. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Rodger, Hannah (27 October 2019). "SNP women's officer who called trans woman "mental pervy git" and compared another to serial killer Ed Kemper reported to HQ". HeraldScotland. Herald and Times Group. Newsquest Media Group. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Scotland Election 2021 > Highlands and Islands". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Aitken, Mark. "The voice of young Scotland: Five of the election's youngest candidates on the issues that matter most to their generation". The Sunday Post. DC Thomson Media. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  13. 1 2 Roddick, Emma (11 May 2021). "We need to talk about the financial barriers to becoming an MSP". The National. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  14. ↑ Mac Dougall, David (11 May 2021). "'Aw, diddums': Scottish Conservative Annie Wells mocks new Highlands MSP over financial concerns". Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals Ltd. DC Thomson Media. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  15. ↑ Paton, Craig (29 March 2023). "Yousaf says SNP is 'united' as he appoints supporters to his first Cabinet". Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Roddick, Emma. "Twitter Profile". Twitter. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  17. ↑ White, Gregor (3 November 2019). "LONGER READ: Inverness by-election candidates explain why they want your vote". Inverness Courier. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  18. ↑ Roddick, Emma [@emma_roddick] (17 May 2020). "So, it's #IDAHOBIT2020
    Let's chat about bi erasure! Thread"     (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ Brown, Hannah (4 July 2022). "Queer MSP Emma Roddick 'gutted' after Shetland Pride speech cancelled 'in favour' of older male MP Alistair Carmichael". The Scotsman. Edinburgh.
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