Mercedes Villalba
Mercedes Villalba | |
|---|---|
Affirming in 2021 | |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) | |
| Assumed office 8 May 2021 | |
| Shadow Minister for Environment and Biodiversity | |
| Assumed office 1 June 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1989 (age 36–37) Bristol, England |
| Party | Scottish Labour |
Mercedes Beatrice M. Villalba (born 1989) is a Scottish Labour politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for North East Scotland since May 2021.
Background
Villalba was born in 1989,[1] and is originally from Bristol, England. She settled in Dundee and was a shop steward with the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU).[2]
Political career
On 7 May 2021 she was unsuccessful as Labour's candidate for Dundee City West,[3] but the following day was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) through the North East Scotland list.[4] She was appointed as Shadow Minister for Environment and Biodiversity in June 2021.[5]
In 2022, she called for the Labour whip to be restored to Jeremy Corbyn after having it suspended for failing to retract his remarks in response to the EHRC report into anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, as demanded by Keir Starmer and David Evans.[6]
On 2 September 2025, she announced she would stand down at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.[7]
Political beliefs
She is an outspoken critic of the British royal family, and has called for its abolition.[8][9] She has also criticised the Rosebank oil and gas field for its projected contributions to climate change, and Delek Group – the parent company of one of its operators, Ithaca Energy – for its activity in Israeli settlements.[10]
On 6 July 2021, Villalba submitted a motion to demand an end to the US embargo on Cuba.[11]
References
- ^ "Villalba, Mercedes Beatrice M." FreeBMD. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ McCall, Chris (8 May 2021). "Who are Scotland's new MSPs? Meet the new boys and girls off to Holyrood for first time". Daily Record. Glasgow. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Scotland Election 2021 > Dundee City West". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Scotland Election 2021 > North East Scotland". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ Davidson, Peter (31 May 2021). "Scottish Labour announce shadow team as Anas Sarwar focuses on national recovery". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ "Labour suspends Jeremy Corbyn over anti-Semitism report". BBC News. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Labour's Mercedes Villalba to stand down at next election". The Herald. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ Webster, Laura (1 August 2021). "Tories outraged as Labour MSP calls for abolition of the monarchy". The National.
- ^ Percival, Richard (2 August 2021). "'Extreme' Scottish politician shamed for 'radical' demand to 'abolish the monarchy'". Daily Express.
- ^ Villalba, Mercedes (8 February 2026). "Why Rosebank exposes the dangers of our fossil fuel dependence". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "UN General Assembly Demands an End to US Embargo on Cuba". Scottish Parliament. 6 July 2021. Motion ref. S6M-00598.
External links
- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Mercedes Villalba