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Ben Macpherson (politician)

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Ben Macpherson
MSP
Official portrait, 2026
Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education[a]
In office
21 September 2025 – 24 August 2026
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byGraeme Dey
Succeeded byAlyn Smith
Minister for Social Security and Local Government
In office
20 May 2021 – 29 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byKevin Stewart
Succeeded byJoe FitzPatrick
Minister for Public Finance and Migration
In office
17 February 2020 – 20 May 2021
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byKate Forbes
Succeeded byTom Arthur
Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development
In office
27 June 2018 – 17 February 2020
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byAlasdair Allan
Succeeded byJenny Gilruth
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith
Edinburgh Northern and Leith (2016–2026)
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2016
Preceded byMalcolm Chisholm
Majority3,061 (8.0%)
Personal details
BornBen Macpherson
(1984-07-12) 12 July 1984 (age 42)[1]
Edinburgh, Scotland
PartyScottish National Party
Websitebenmacpherson.scot

Ben Macpherson (born July 1984) is a Scottish politician who served as the Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education[b] from 2025 to 2026. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith constituency since 2026. He previously represented Edinburgh Northern and Leith from 2016 to 2026.

He previously served as Minister for Social Security and Local Government in the Scottish Government from May 2021 to March 2023, having previously served as Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development (June 2018-February 2020), Minister for Public Finance and Migration (February 2020-December 2020) and Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (December 2020-May 2021).

Early life and education

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Macpherson attended Flora Stevenson Primary School and then George Heriot's School.[2] He then graduated from the University of York with a degree in philosophy and politics. He later studied law at the University of Edinburgh.[3]

As a youth, Macpherson was involved in the local Labour Party.[1] When he was sixteen, in 2002 he did work experience with his local MSP Malcolm Chisholm, whose constituency he later represented.[1] He became a member of the SNP in 2005,[3] having left Labour in 2003 due to the Iraq War and lack of sufficient progress on social justice.[1]

He worked in a number of different roles and sectors, including time as a bartender, for a wave energy company and as a clerical assistant at James Gillespie's High School.[1] He then trained as a lawyer, working for the firm Brodies.[1]

In the summer of 2004 he walked from Edinburgh to London to raise awareness of the annual International Day of Peace.[4] Growing up he was a keen footballer and played for several teams in Edinburgh and the University of York's 1st Team.[5][1] In 2003, he lived briefly in China, working as a volunteer English teacher in Wujiang.[5]

Political career

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In August 2015, Macpherson was selected from a field of ten contenders as the SNP candidate for the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency, having been supported by former SNP leader Alex Salmond and Edinburgh Southern MSP Jim Eadie.[3] Tipped as "one of the SNP’s rising stars",[3] at the May 2016 Scottish Parliament election Macpherson won the seat with a 10% swing from Labour.[6] He succeeded Malcolm Chisholm, who had retired.[6]

As a backbencher, he served on the Justice Committee and the Social Security Committee, and was a Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the First Minister.[7] On 27 June 2018, he was appointed as Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development in the Scottish Government.[8] He served in this role until February 2020, when he became Minister for Public Finance and Migration. In December 2020, he was appointed Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment.[9]

Macpherson was re-elected at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election,[10] when his constituency was the last to declare a result.[11] In the subsequent ministerial reshuffle, Macpherson was appointed on 19 May as Minister for Social Security and Local Government.[12] He left the role on 29 March 2023, after declining to serve in the Yousaf Government.[13]

Macpherson was appointed minister for Higher and Further Education by John Swinney in September 2025.[14] He was re-elected at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election in Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith. [15] On 24 August 2026, he resigned from the cabinet.[16] He cited personal reasons.[17]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McQuillan, Rebecca (7 October 2020). "Catching the wave: interview with Ben Macpherson". Holyrood. Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Newsletter" (PDF). www.george-heriots.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Lawyer targets SNP clean sweep of Edinburgh in 2016". Edinburgh Evening News. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "Student starts UK walk for peace". BBC News. 24 July 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Ben Macpherson". Linkedin. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Scotland Election 2016: Edinburgh Northern and Leith". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern & Leith". Scottish National Party. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Nine new junior ministers appointed to Scottish government". BBC News. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment - gov.scot". www.gov.scot.
  10. ↑ "Constituencies A-Z: Edinburgh Northern & Leith". BBC News. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  11. ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (9 May 2021). "#SPE21RESULT Edinburgh Northern and Leith – Ben Macpherson retains his seat". Edinburgh Reporter. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Nicola Sturgeon appoints new health and education secretaries". BBC News. 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Former SNP minister declines role in Humza Yousaf's government". The National. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "Minister talks a good game, but is he ready to act?". The Herald. 9 November 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith - Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "Scottish government minister Ben Macpherson resigns". BBC News. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "Blow for Swinney as minister quits government to prioritise well-being". The Herald. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
  1. ↑ Minister for Higher and Further Education from September to May 2026.
  2. ↑ Minister for Higher and Further Education from September to May 2026.
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