Personal Information

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Having been a member of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 to 2016, it is a great privilege to return to the Scottish Parliament as a Labour MSP for Lothian.  

The best way to get in touch with me is by email on: [email protected]

Education 

• Sarah was in the first intake of girls at the Royal High School in Edinburgh. She then studied Modern History and Politics at Glasgow University MA hons, followed by a Diploma in Town and Country Planning at Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot Watt University

Career history 

• Sarah was a professional town planner and worked for the London Borough of Brent, Central Regional Council and then as a Lecturer in Planning for Edinburgh College of Art.
• Sarah was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 as MSP for Edinburgh Central. She served in Donald Dewar’s first Cabinet as Minister for Planning, Transport and the Environment. She was Convenor of the Environment and Rural Committee in the second term of the Parliament.
• As a Labour MSP for Lothian 2007-2016 Sarah served in Labour’s Shadow Cabinet as Environment and Rural Affairs, Local Government and Planning and then Environmental Justice. 
• After losing her seat in the Scottish Parliament at the 2016 elections, Sarah lectured at Heriot Watt University teaching Planning and Environmental Studies in 2016/7, then worked for the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations as Head of Public Affairs from 2017 until returning to the Scottish Parliament in July 2019.  

Memberships

The Cooperative Party

Unison and Community Trade Unions

Friends of the Earth Scotland

Spokes