title: Regional Member changes in the Scottish Parliament
text: # Regional Member changes in the Scottish Parliament
  
  Under the provisions of the Scotland Act, 1998, regional members of the Scottish Parliament who resign, die or are otherwise disqualified are replaced by the next available and willing person of their original party's list, so no by-election occurs.
  
  These are the changes that have occurred to since the first elections in 1999.
  
  ## List of regional list member changes
  
  ### 2021 - 2026 Parliamentary term
  
  | Region | Date | Incumbent | Party | Party | Replacement | Party | Party | Cause |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Mid Scotland and Fife | 5 September 2022 | Dean Lockhart | | Conservative | Roz McCall | | Conservative | Resignation (to pursue new opportunities) |
  
  ### 2016 - 2021 Parliamentary term
  
  | Region | Date | Incumbent | Party | Replacement | Party | Cause |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Lothian | 15 July 2019 | Kezia Dugdale | Labour | Sarah Boyack | Labour | Resignation (Appointment as director of the John Smith Centre for Public Service) |
  | Highlands and Islands | 13 June 2017 | Douglas Ross | Conservative | Jamie Halcro Johnston | Conservative | Resignation (elected as MP) |
  | North East Scotland | 13 June 2017 | Ross Thomson | Conservative | Tom Mason | Conservative | Resignation (elected as MP) |
  | South Scotland | 4 May 2017 | Rachael Hamilton | Conservative | Michelle Ballantyne | Conservative | Resignation in order to contest Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire |
  | North East Scotland | 7 December 2016 | Alex Johnstone | Conservative | Bill Bowman | Conservative | Death |
  
  ### 2011 – 2016 Parliamentary term
  
  | Region | Date | Incumbent | Party | Replacement | Party | Cause |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Mid Scotland and Fife | 11 January 2016 | Richard Baker | Labour | Lesley Brennan | Labour | Resignation |
  | Lothian | 4 April 2014 | Margo MacDonald | Independent | None (seat left vacant) | N/A | Death |
  | Lothian | 12 August 2013 | David McLetchie | Conservative | Cameron Buchanan | Conservative | Death |
  | North East Scotland | 15 May 2013 | Mark McDonald | SNP | Christian Allard | SNP | Resignation in order to contest Aberdeen Donside |
  | Mid Scotland and Fife | 7 December 2012 | John Park | Labour | Jayne Baxter | Labour | Resignation to take up a post with the Community Trade Union |
  
  ### 2007 – 2011 Parliamentary term
  
  | Region | Date | Incumbent | Party | Party | Replacement | Party | Party | Cause |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Glasgow | 6 February 2009 | Bashir Ahmad | | SNP | Anne McLaughlin | | SNP | Death |
  | Lothians | 31 August 2007 | Stefan Tymkewycz | | SNP | Shirley-Anne Somerville | | SNP | Resignation to concentrate on Edinburgh City Council work. |
  
  ### 2003 – 2007 Parliamentary term
  
  | Region | Date | Incumbent | Party | Replacement | Party | Cause |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Highlands and Islands | 19 April 2006 | Mary Scanlon | Conservative | Dave Petrie | Conservative | Resignation in order to contest Moray |
  | North East Scotland | 19 April 2006 | Richard Lochhead | SNP | Maureen Watt | SNP | Resignation in order to contest Moray |
  | South of Scotland | 22 June 2005 | David Mundell | Conservative | Derek Brownlee | Conservative | Resignation (elected as MP) |
  | Mid Scotland and Fife | 10 January 2005 | Keith Raffan | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Arbuckle | Liberal Democrats | Resignation (citing health) |
  
  ### 1999 – 2003 Parliamentary term
  
  | Region | Date | Incumbent | Party | Party | Replacement | Party | Party | Cause |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Mid Scotland and Fife | 14 August 2001 | Nick Johnston | | Conservative | Murdo Fraser | | Conservative | Resignation (ill health) |
  