Hundreds of brightly dressed mourners turned out for the funeral of the late SNP MSP Christina McKelvie at Daldowie Crematorium on Friday.
The long-standing government minister died last month, aged 57, at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary after a lengthy battle with secondary breast cancer.
Bagpipers played as McKelvie’s coffin, which was draped with the Scottish flag, was carried into the crematorium surrounded by her family, friends, and colleagues – many of whom were wearing pink, blue, yellow or turquoise in her honour.
Many senior figures across Scottish politics, including former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, health secretary Neil Gray and many more, could be seen arriving at the crematorium ahead of the service.
STV NewsOriginally from the Easterhouse area of Glasgow, McKelvie was elected as an MSP in 2007 before winning the constituency in 2011.
She was a minister in the Scottish Government for seven years, serving as equalities minister between 2018 and 2023 and then culture minister before moving into her most recent role as the Government looked to stem the drug deaths crisis.
McKelvie had previously undergone treatment for breast cancer, which ended successfully in 2021, but announced last year she required further treatment.
She stepped back from her ministerial job as drugs and alcohol minister, with her role filled by health secretary Neil Gray and public health minister Jenni Minto.
STV NewsMcKelvie’s partner, SNP deputy leader Keith Brown, announced she had died on March 26.
His statement read: “To us, she was our beloved mum, partner and gran to Maeve and Leo.
“She was always hard working and enthusiastic and lit up every room she was in with her positivity and bright smile.
“She was always proud of her working-class roots in Easterhouse and often said she could not have dreamt of becoming a government minister for the Scottish Government.”
TwitterHundreds of tributes poured in following the minister’s death, with many MSPs from across all parties praising her example of “kindness and compassion” both in politics and in life.
She was remembered as a “beautiful friend” and “kind, loyal, compassionate and full of life” by Nicola Sturgeon.
Political leaders remembered their colleague at a sombre FMQs on March 27, with First Minister John Swinney describing her as a “generous, kind, loyal and fun-loving colleague”.
“She served her constituents, her party and her country with the greatest amount of devotion that was imaginable,” he added.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay described McKelvie as a “respected colleague and a dedicated public servant”, while Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the pain of her death will be felt “across the Parliament”, adding: “Across all parties, many have lost a friend.”
Breast Cancer Now – a charity which McKelvie supported – chief executive Claire Rowney said: “We are so grateful to Christina for all she did to amplify the voices of women with breast cancer, and for all the incredible support she has given us over the years.
“Our thoughts are with her family, and everyone who knew and loved her.”
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