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 2 cross-party groups
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 12 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 Investment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 24 November 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Trade
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 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].
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].
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.
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 Patron of Food Facts and Friends. [Registered 19 March 2019]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]
I am the Managing Trustee of the Haining Charitable Trust.
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]
Until 13 January 2021 I was a Trustee of Friends at the End (FATE). [Registered 19 March 2019, Amended 10 February 2021, Ceased 10 February 2021]
Until 13 January 2021 I was a Council Member of Friends at the End Unincorporated Association. [Registered 19 March 2019, Amended 10 February 2021, Ceased 10 February 2021]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 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.
Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 23 February 2021
Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform): "As has been discussed, the Parliament agreed to the general principles of the bill at stage 1. I believe that our job today is to make sure that it is fit for purpose for both sides…
Chamber meeting date: 3 February 2021
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform): "It gives me no pleasure to take up members’ time to speak against the motion, but I feel that it is important to raise how unsatisfactory it is that SSIs are presented to the Parliament with a broad range of elements that we have either to support or reject en masse. I have raised the matter at the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and hope…
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2021
Decision Time
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I did not connect to the digital voting system, but I would have voted yes."
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2021
Health and Care Workforce
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform): "The emergence of the coronavirus and its subsequent variants has resulted in decisions being made that would have been unthinkable a year ago…
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2021
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
Michelle Ballantyne (South Scotland) (Reform): "I wish to speak against motions S5M-23910 and S5M-23911…
See all of Michelle Ballantyne's contributions in the chamber
See all of Michelle Ballantyne's contributions in committees
Votes
How Michelle Ballantyne has voted in Parliament
Find out how Michelle Ballantyne has voted recently.
Budget (Scotland) (No.5) Bill
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 88 for, 31 against, 5 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Budget (Scotland) (No.5) Bill
Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 53 for, 62 against, 10 abstained, 4 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Budget (Scotland) (No.5) Bill
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 22 for, 60 against, 41 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Scottish Rate Resolution
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 25, 2021
Result 88 for, 1 against, 35 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Fair Funding for Local Government
Submitted by: Aileen Campbell, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Result 65 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 13 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
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, Reform UK , Date Lodged: 29 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 clinical prioritisation framework stating that priority level two surgery should be scheduled within four weeks, whether it will confirm that (a) access to surgery will be maintained for (i) patients who require it to alleviate severe pain and (ii) all patients with priority level two surgery…
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 11 February 2021
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
See all of Michelle Ballantyne's written questions submitted in Parliament