Maree Todd

Scottish National Party politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maree Todd is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician who has been an MSP for the Highlands and Islands since May 2026. She was previously the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross from May 2021 to May 2026. Additionally, she was an MSP for the Highlands and Islands from the election in May 2016.[1]

First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byChristina McKelvie (Drugs & Alcohol)
Herself (Sport)
Preceded byKevin Stewart
Quick facts MSP, Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport ...
Maree Todd
Official portrait, 2026
Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport
Assumed office
11 June 2025
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byChristina McKelvie (Drugs & Alcohol)
Herself (Sport)
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport
In office
29 March 2023  11 June 2025
First MinisterHumza Yousaf
John Swinney
Preceded byKevin Stewart
Succeeded byTom Arthur (Social Care and Mental Wellbeing)
Herself (Sport)
Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport
In office
20 May 2021  29 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byMairi Gougeon
Succeeded byJenni Minto
Minister for Children and Young People
In office
7 November 2017  20 May 2021
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byMark McDonald
Succeeded byClare Haughey
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Highlands and Islands
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
Assumed office
7 May 2026
In office
5 May 2016  5 May 2021
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
In office
6 May 2021  9 April 2026
Preceded byGail Ross
Succeeded byDavid Green
Personal details
PartyScottish National Party
Robert Gordon University
ProfessionPharmacist
Websitemareetodd.scot
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She was Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport from June 2025 until April 2026.[2] She also previously served as Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport between 2023 and 2025, as the Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport from 2021 to 2023, and as the Minister for Children and Young People from 2017 to 2021.

Early life and education

She was educated at Ullapool primary school and high school.[3] She went to Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, graduating in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy.[4]

Pharmacy career

She previously worked as a hospital pharmacist for NHS Highland.[5] Before being elected as a MSP, she was based at the New Craigs Psychiatric Hospital in Inverness.[5]

Political career

She was encouraged into politics after campaigning during the Scottish independence referendum that took place in 2014.[3] In October 2015 she was announced as the top candidate on the SNP's regional list for the Highlands and Islands and was elected in the 2016 election.[6] Todd was appointed Minister for Childcare and Early Years by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on 7 November 2017.[7] Todd is a Species Champion for the Flame shell, through a scheme run by Scottish Environment LINK.[8]

At the May 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Todd was elected as the MSP for the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency. On 19 May 2021, she was appointed to the new government as Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport.[9] In 2023, she was appointed to the Yousaf government as Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport.[10] In 2025, Todd was appointed to the newly renamed role of Minister for Drugs & Alcohol Policy and Sport.[11] In this role she maintained her responsibility for the sport portfolio while taking on the drugs and alcohol brief.[12]

In the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, she stood again in the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross constituency, where she was defeated by Liberal Democrat David Green[13] However, she was re-elected on the Highlands and Islands regional list.[14][15]

References

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