Michelle Ballantyne
Reform UK
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
Independent
Former MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2020 - 2021
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Former MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2017 - 2020
About Michelle Ballantyne
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5661
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Michelle is a member of 1 committee
Cross-party groups
Michelle is a member of 3 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Armed Forces and Veterans Community
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Drug and Alcohol Misuse
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on End of Life Choices
Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Michelle does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Michelle does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Michelle has had 13 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
11 August 2020 - 24 November 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Innovation
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 24 November 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Trade
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 24 November 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Investment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
03 March 2020 - 20 August 2020
Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee
Convener
03 March 2020 - 20 August 2020
Conveners Group
Member
25 February 2020 - 03 March 2020
Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee
Member
17 May 2018 - 25 February 2020
Social Security Committee
Member
03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Communities
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Social Security
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 June 2017 - 06 September 2018
Justice Committee
Substitute Member
29 June 2017 - 17 May 2018
Public Petitions Committee
Member
29 June 2017 - 16 May 2018
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Michelle's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Michelle Ballantyne. The date of their initial statement was 07 June 2017.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 4 August 2017 I was head of service at Stable Life Limited, a charitable company limited by guarantee (of Dryden Farm, Ashkirk, Selkirk, TD7 4NT). Until 23 May 2017 I worked approximately 20 hours per week in this role. I received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 a year for undertaking this work. On that date I ceased receiving remuneration for this post and, until 4 August 2017, provided consultancy on a voluntary basis. On 30 August 2017, I ceased all work for Stable Life [Amended interest 24 October 2017, Amended interest 6 March 2018].
I am a director of Ballantynes of Walkerburn, a manufacturing company (of Jubilee Mill, Jubilee Road, Walkerburn, EH43 6AB). I work approximately 2 hours per month in this role. I receive remuneration of between £5,001 and £10,000 a year for undertaking this role.
Until 30 November 2017 I was a local authority councillor for Scottish Borders Council (of Newtown St. Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0SA). I worked 16 hours per week in this post and received remuneration of between £20,001 and £25,000 a year, which included provision of a laptop and mobile phone and reimbursement of mileage. From July 2017 I donated my salary to the Haining Charitable Trust. [Amended interest 6 March 2018].
Gifts
On 20 January 2020 I received a donation of £2,000 to my leadership campaign from Mr John Stirling, a private individual. I established that the donation was from a permissible donor and accepted it on 22 January 2020. [Registered 19 February 2020]
Overseas visits
From 7 to 11 October 2017 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including; President MA Ying-Jeou and Madame Ma, Scottish Development International (Taiwan Office), Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei City Council, Straits Exchange Foundation, British Trade and Cultural Office, Hsinchu Science Park, Green Energy and Environment Research Lab, King Car Whisky Distillery and the National Centre for Traditional Arts. The cost of the visit was; air ticket £2780, accommodation £528, bus £133, high speed rail £12, food £163, tickets for 101, opera and hot spring £59. The total cost was £3,675 met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a vase, a set of fruit forks, a mug and a book. The value of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. [Registered 6 March 2018].
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests.
Heritable property
I own a flat in the Scottish Borders with a market value of between £50,001 and £100,000. I anticipate that this flat will yield gross income of between £5,001 and £10,000 annually. This income will not be received by me as the flat is managed by a member of my family.
Interest in shares
I own ordinary voting shares, ordinary shares and preference shares in Ballantynes of Walkerburn, a manufacturing company and a close family business. These shares have a market value of approximately £247,000. The shares represent 50 per cent of the issued share capital of the company. [Amended interest 19 March 2019]
Voluntary
I am a Council Member of Friends at the End Unincorporated Association. [Registered 19 March 2019]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]
I am the Managing Trustee of the Haining Charitable Trust.
I am a Trustee of Friends at the End (FATE). [Registered 19 March 2019]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]
I am a Patron of Food Facts and Friends. [Registered 19 March 2019]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Michelle Ballantyne has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 22 December 2020
UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Ind): "I want to set out the reasoning for lodging my amendments. I will try to keep my remarks on each group short and to the point, because I am conscious that this will be a long day…
Chamber meeting date: 16 December 2020
Trade Arrangements (Post-Brexit)
5. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Ind): "To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on which post-Brexit trading arrangements between the United Kingdom and European Union would be best for Scotland. (S5O-04861)"
Chamber meeting date: 26 November 2020
6. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Ind): "To ask the First Minister for what reason crimes involving offensive weapons reportedly continue to be on the rise, and what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle this. (S5F-04595)"
Chamber meeting date: 18 November 2020
1. Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what engagement Transport Scotland has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding the union connectivity review. (S5O-04753)"
Chamber meeting date: 17 November 2020
Veterans and Armed Forces Community
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Con): "Many years ago, there was a saying that, if the Army wanted you to have a wife, it would have issued you with one…
See all of Michelle Ballantyne's contributions in Parliament
Votes
How Michelle Ballantyne has voted in Parliament
Find out how Michelle Ballantyne has voted recently.
Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union
Submitted by: Ruth Davidson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Result 30 for, 94 against, 0 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union
Submitted by: Nicola Sturgeon, Glasgow Southside, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Supported by: Michael Russell
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Result 92 for, 30 against, 1 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union
Submitted by: Richard Leonard, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Supported by: Anas Sarwar
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Result 94 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 21, 2020
Supported by: Jenny Gilruth, Michael Russell
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Result 117 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Result 33 for, 86 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Michelle Ballantyne in Parliament
Find out what motions Michelle Ballantyne has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Michelle Ballantyne has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Independent, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on which post-Brexit trading arrangements between the UK and EU would be best for Scotland."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that NHS Scotland doctors are being equipped with "repurposed bin bags" in the place of PPE."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 25 November 2020
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government how many new jobs have been created in the Hunterston area in each of the last five years as a direct result of its investment and support."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 18 November 2020
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government how many new overseas offices it plans to open in the next 10 years, and what the (a) budget and (b) location will be for each."
Answered by: Michael Russell on 16 November 2020
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement Transport Scotland has had with the UK Government regarding the union connectivity review."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to support businesses to adapt to new ways of working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic."
Answered by: Kate Forbes on 11 November 2020
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 October 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding to NHS Borders and Scottish Borders Council in the event of a need to bail out the Scottish Borders Integration Joint Board."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 30 October 2020
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 October 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional funding to cover COVID-19 spending by the Scottish Borders Integration Joint Board."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 30 October 2020
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 October 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the loss of Borders Buses services on local communities."
Answered by: Michael Matheson on 29 October 2020
Asked by: Ballantyne, Michelle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 October 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with Borders Buses to discuss a funding support package for winter 2020-21."
Answered by: Michael Matheson on 29 October 2020
See all of Michelle Ballantyne's written questions submitted in Parliament