New Scottish Government International Development Minister

25 January 2022

We welcome Neil Gray MSP’s appointment as the Scottish Government as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and look forward to working closely with him in this important role.

On the evening of the 24th January, the Scottish Government announced a minor reshuffle, which saw Jenny Gilruth MSP taking the Transport portfolio with immediate effect, and Neil Gray MSP entering government as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.

The Scotland Malawi Partnership wishes Cabinet Secretary Gilruth every success and happiness with her new appointment and we look forward to working with Neil Gray.

Mr Gray is a longstanding supporter of Scotland’s links with Malawi both from his time as an MP and latterly as an MSP.

Neil Gray MSPs

In the UK Parliament, Mr Gray was a member of the Malawi All-Party Parliamentary Group, which the SMP provides the secretariat for. He put his name to a number of Early Day Motions relating to Malawi and spoke in debates to champion his constituency’s links with Malawi, including SMP members: St. Margaret’s High School , Monkland Primary School, Clarkston Primary School and St Dominic’s nursery. He asked the UK Government’s Africa Minister in a Westminster Hall debate in 2017: “Does my hon. Friend agree that the work done on fostering those links from an early age is so important for both countries and needs to continue?”

In Holyrood, as an MSP, Mr Gray has continued his strong support for Malawi. In June 2021 he lodged a parliamentary motion again celebrating the inspiring Malawi links at St Margaret's High School in Airdrie.

Speaking of his Ministerial appointment, Neil Gray MSP said:


“It is an honour to be asked to join the Scottish Government.

“I look forward to building on the great work of my predecessor by further strengthening our relations across the globe and supporting the creative industries as they set out to recover from some of the hardest years for the sector in recent memory.”

Jenny Gilruth MSP said:


“It has been a privilege to work with our international and cultural community over the last few years and I am looking forward to this new challenge. “