Tom Arthur (Scottish politician)
Tom Arthur | |
|---|---|
Official Portrait, 2021 | |
| Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing | |
| Assumed office 11 June 2025 | |
| First Minister | John Swinney |
| Preceded by | Maree Todd |
| Minister for Employment and Investment | |
| In office 8 May 2024 – 11 June 2025 | |
| First Minister | John Swinney |
| Preceded by | Richard Lochhead (2023) |
| Succeeded by | Office Abolished |
| Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance[a] | |
| In office 20 May 2021 – 8 May 2024 | |
| First Minister | Nicola Sturgeon Humza Yousaf |
| Preceded by | Ben Macpherson |
| Succeeded by | Ivan McKee |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire South | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh Henry |
| Majority | 7,106 (20.5%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1985 (age 39–40) Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Website | http://www.tomarthur.scot/ |
Thomas Compton Arthur MSP (born 1985) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. He is the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the constituency of Renfrewshire South, having been first elected in 2016[1] and re-elected in 2021.[2] He has served as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing since June 2025.[3]
Background
Arthur was born in 1985 in Paisley, Renfrewshire and raised in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, where he was educated at Cross Arthurlie Primary and Barrhead High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music then later Master of Music from the University of Glasgow. Before entering politics, he worked as a company director, freelance piano teacher and keyboardist.[4]
Political career
Arthur joined the Scottish National Party in 2009.[4] He was elected as the first SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Renfrewshire South constituency at the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. He made his maiden speech in the Scottish Parliament on 26 May 2016.[5]
He was re-elected in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election with a 50.5% vote share in the constituency and gained an increased majority of 7,106 votes or 20.5% over the nearest challenger.[2] In May 2021 he was appointed Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth in the Scottish Government.[6] In March 2023, Humza Yousaf re-appointed him to his ministerial role as Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance.[7] Between May 2024 and June 2025, he served as Minister for Employment and Investment under John Swinney.
In June 2025, he was appointed Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing.[8] This was the first time Arthur served in a non-economic role.
References
- ^ "Election 2016: Renfrewshire South". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Renfrewshire South – Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Changes to the Ministerial team: Letter from First Minister to the Presiding Officer". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ a b Mann, Graham (15 January 2016). "SNP man has sights set on Holyrood glory". Greenock Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Sim, Philip [@bbcphilipsim] (26 May 2016). "New SNP MSP Tom Arthur's first speech also going down well at Holyrood. The length of his tie less so" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 May 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth - gov.scot". www.gov.scot.
- ^ "Full ministerial team confirmed". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Housing placed at the heart of Cabinet". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ Known as Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth until 29 March 2023.
External links
- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Tom Arthur
- profile on SNP website