Emma Roddick

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Emma Roddick

| honorific-suffix = MSP

| image = Emma Roddick 2021.jpg

| caption = Emma Roddick in the Scottish Parliament on 13 May 2021

| office = Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees

| term_start = 29 March 2023

| term_end = 8 May 2024

| predecessor = Christina McKelvie

| successor = Kaukab Stewart

| office1 = Member of the Scottish Parliament for Highlands and Islands
{{nobold|(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)}}

| term_start1 = 8 May 2021

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 =

| successor1 =

| office2 =

| term_start2 =

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 =

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|07|30|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| party = Scottish National Party

| alma_mater =

| firstminister = Humza Yousaf

}}

Emma Roddick (born 30 July 1997) is a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician. Emma served as the Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees between 2023 and 2024; stepping down when John Swinney was appointed first minister{{Cite web |title=Full ministerial team confirmed |url=http://www.gov.scot/news/full-ministerial-team-confirmed/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www.gov.scot }}{{Cite news |date=2024-05-08 |title=Kate Forbes 'honoured' to become deputy first minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-68976320 |access-date=2024-05-09 |work=BBC News }}{{Cite web |title=Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees: resignation letters |url=http://www.gov.scot/publications/resignation-letter-minister-equalities-migration-refugees/ |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=www.gov.scot }} She has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Highlands and Islands since May 2021.

Early life

Roddick was born to Sue, a social worker, and Davy Roddick and lived in Alness from an early age.{{cite news |title='She touched the lives of so many' – tributes paid to Highland social worker |url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/she-touched-the-lives-of-so-many-tributes-paid-to-highland-social-worker-226200/ |last=Glen |first=Louise |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=Inverness Courier |date=27 January 2021 }} She moved to Inverness as a teenager to work in a temporary position at University of the Highlands and Islands, while also working on her bike for Deliveroo.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/minister-for-equalities-migration-and-refugees/|title=Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees: Current role holder Emma Roddick MSP|access-date=28 April 2024}} Both of her parents had died by the time she was elected in May 2021. She formerly worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service.{{cite news|url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/snp-announce-inverness-central-ward-by-election-candidate-184481/ |title=SNP announce Inverness Central ward by-election candidate for Highland Council seat |first=Andrew |last=Dixon |work=The Inverness Courier |date=14 October 2019 |access-date=8 May 2021}}

Roddick, who has Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and PTSD,{{cite news |last1=Garavelli |first1=Dani |title=Scotland will benefit from its newly diverse parliament |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/may/12/scotland-benefit-diverse-parliament-holyrood-msps |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=2021-05-12 }} started a petition in 2017 to improve the available services from Scotland's NHS24 helpline.{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Michelle |title=Mental health campaign thrives into action |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/1348364/mental-health-campaign-thrives-into-action/ |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=Press and Journal |agency=DC Thomson Media |publisher=Aberdeen Journals Ltd |date=27 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106095001/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/1348364/mental-health-campaign-thrives-into-action/ |archive-date=6 November 2017}} In 2020 the campaign proved successful, and NHS 24 added option 3 to their service.{{cite web |url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/mental-health-campaign-a-success-190960/ |title=Inverness councillor Emma Roddick delighted with mental health campaign success |date=2020-02-05 |access-date=2021-05-12 }}

Political career

In November 2019 she was elected in a by-election as a Councillor, representing the Inverness Central ward of the Highland Council.{{cite news|url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/1890632/snp-take-inverness-central-ward-by-massive-margin/ |title=SNP take Inverness Central ward by massive margin |first=Susy |last=Macaulay |work=The Press and Journal |date=15 November 2019 |access-date=8 May 2021}} Shortly after starting her campaign, she became the target of mostly anonymous online death and rape threats,{{cite news |last1=Macaulay |first1=Susy |title=Online bullying and abuse an everyday event for Highland councillors |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/inverness/1917236/online-bullying-and-abuse-an-everyday-event-for-highland-councillors/ |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=Press and Journal |agency=DC Thomson Media |publisher=Aberdeen Journals Ltd |date=20 December 2019}} and had her home broken into twice.{{cite news |last1=Rodger |first1=Hannah |title=Police investigating fake Joanna Cherry violence threat posts |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18087272.police-investigating-fake-joanna-cherry-violence-threat-posts/ |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=HeraldScotland |agency=Newsquest Media Group |publisher=Herald and Times Group |date=8 December 2019 }} The month before, she refused to sign a petition opposing the Gender Recognition Act reforms, claiming the petition had "transphobic undertones".{{cite news |last1=Rodger |first1=Hannah |title=SNP women's officer who called trans woman "mental pervy git" and compared another to serial killer Ed Kemper reported to HQ |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17996127.snp-womens-officer-called-trans-woman-mental-pervy-git-compared-another-serial-killer-ed-kemper-reported-hq/ |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=HeraldScotland |agency=Newsquest Media Group |publisher=Herald and Times Group |date=27 October 2019 }}

=Member of the Scottish Parliament=

On 8 May 2021 she was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Highlands and Islands.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2021/scotland/regions/S17000011 |title=Scotland Election 2021 > Highlands and Islands |work=BBC News | access-date=8 May 2021}} She was one of the youngest candidates seeking election, and the youngest MSP elected.{{cite news |last1=Aitken |first1=Mark |title=The voice of young Scotland: Five of the election's youngest candidates on the issues that matter most to their generation |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/election-youngest-candidates/ |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=The Sunday Post |agency=DC Thomson Media}}

After her election in 2021, Roddick, who had experienced homelessness as a teenager,{{cite news|url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/emma-roddick-tackling-scotland-s-population-challenges-342799/|title=EMMA RODDICK: Tackling Scotland's population challenges|date=20 February 2024|work=Inverness Courier|access-date=28 April 2024}} spoke about the financial burdens of running for office which provide barriers to young and working-class people running,{{cite web |title=We need to talk about the financial barriers to becoming an MSP |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19293851.emma-roddick-need-talk-financial-barriers-becoming-msp/ |last=Roddick |first=Emma |website=The National |date=11 May 2021 |access-date=15 May 2021}} and highlighted the initial cost of being an MSP.{{cite news |last1=Mac Dougall |first1=David |title='Aw, diddums': Scottish Conservative Annie Wells mocks new Highlands MSP over financial concerns |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/3132652/scottish-conservative-annie-wells/ |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=Press and Journal |agency=DC Thomson Media |publisher=Aberdeen Journals Ltd |date=11 May 2021}}

In 2023, she was appointed to the Yousaf government as Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees, before stepping down in 2024{{Cite web |last=Paton |first=Craig |date=2023-03-29 |title=Yousaf says SNP is 'united' as he appoints supporters to his first Cabinet |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/humza-yousaf-kate-forbes-cabinet-snp-government-b1070901.html |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Evening Standard }}

In November 2024, Roddick criticised SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn for his decision to stand for a Holyrood seat at the next Scottish Parliament election while still holding his Westminster seat. Party rules introduced in 2020 require SNP MPs to resign their seat at Westminster before seeking selection to Holyrood. Roddick wrote in a tweet that she hoped Flynn "rethinks" his plans to stand in both houses. Roddick's unconventionally-worded tweet was interpreted as an acrostic referring to Flynn as a "prick". In return, Roddick was subjected to negative press briefing by an unnamed SNP source to the Daily Mail, accusing her of "rank hypocrisy" for previously "double-jobbing" as an MSP and councillor from 2021 until resigning her local authority seat in 2022, and describing her as "a rubbish MSP who has achieved nothing and has everything to lose from a more talented class of SNP politicians coming through to shake up Holyrood and inject a bit of imagination and life where lazy MSPs like her have so badly failed." The public dispute prompted an intervention by SNP Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, who issued a warning against negative briefings to the press and asked members to "leave yer [sic] ego to the side for the benefit of a cause much bigger than any of us."{{Cite web |date=2024-11-17 |title=Scottish minister issues warning after media reports on SNP infighting |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24729528.snp-minister-issues-warning-media-reports-infighting/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=The National }}

In February 2025, Roddick was reported to be on an all-female "hit list" of SNP MSPs that were to be asked to stand down from the Scottish Parliament to make room for ex-MPs who had lost their seats in the 2024 UK general election. The alleged list was reported to have been drawn up at Stephen Flynn's direction by Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP Seamus Logan.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Stephen Flynn 'running boys' brigade in Westminster' amid 'hit list' claim |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24926787.stephen-flynn-running-boys-brigade-westminster/ |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=The National }}

Roddick was selected as the SNP's candidate for the Inverness and Nairn constituency, in preparation for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.{{cite news|title = SNP choose Emma Roddick MSP to replace Fergus Ewing as Inverness and Nairn Scottish Parliament constituency candidate|url = https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/emma-roddick-chosen-to-replace-fergus-ewing-as-snp-inverness-381415/|work = Inverness Courier|date = 7 May 2025|access-date = 11 July 2025}}

Personal life

Roddick plays the fiddle.{{cite web |last1=Roddick |first1=Emma |title=Twitter Profile |url=https://twitter.com/Emma_Roddick |website=Twitter |access-date=9 May 2021}} She lives in Merkinch in Inverness{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Gregor |title=LONGER READ: Inverness by-election candidates explain why they want your vote |url=https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/longer-read-inverness-by-election-candidates-explain-why-they-want-your-vote-185501/ |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=Inverness Courier |date=3 November 2019 }} and identifies as bisexual.{{cite tweet|user=emma_roddick|last=Roddick|first=Emma|number=1262093023812427778|title=So, it's #IDAHOBIT2020
Let's chat about bi erasure! Thread}}{{Cite news | last = Brown| first = Hannah| title =Queer MSP Emma Roddick 'gutted' after Shetland Pride speech cancelled 'in favour' of older male MP Alistair Carmichael| newspaper = The Scotsman| location = Edinburgh| pages = | language = | publisher = | date = 4 July 2022| url = https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/queer-msp-emma-roddick-gutted-after-shetland-pride-speech-cancelled-in-favour-of-older-male-mp-alistair-carmichael-3755697| accessdate = }}