Pete Wishart is the Scottish National Party (SNP) MP for Perth and Kinross-shire, having first been elected to parliament at the 2001 general election.

In the 2024 general election for the Perth and Kinross-shire constituency, Wishart received 18,928 votes, which represented 37.8% of the vote share. The Conservative candidate, Luke Graham, received 14,801 votes (29.6%), while the Labour candidate, Graham Cox, secured 9,018 votes (18.0%). Wishart was duly elected with a majority of 4,127 votes.

Perth and Kinross-shire was formed primarily from the former Perth and North Perthshire constituency, represented by Wishart since 2005, and parts of the abolished Ochil and South Perthshire constituency. Wishart previously represented the North Tayside constituency from 2001 until it was abolished in 2005. The area has consistently returned SNP MPs since 1997, when they elected John Swinney.

Political Career

Wishart is the longest continuously-serving SNP MP in the House of Commons. He currently serves as the SNP deputy Westminster leader and the SNP Westminster spokesperson for the constitution and home affairs.

Wishart is also a member of the panel of chairs (since March 2026). The panel of chairs is made up of MPs chosen by the House of Commons speaker, typically at the beginning of every parliament, to chair public bill committees and other commons general committees. In this capacity, Wishart may chair debates in Westminster Hall and may also act as temporary chair during a committee of the whole House.

Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw the SNP decimated in Scotland, Wishart held a series of frontbench roles.

Wishart was SNP spokesperson for environment, food and rural affairs (2022-2022 and 2001-2005), shadow leader of the House of Commons (2021-2022, 2017-2020 and 2015-2017), Cabinet Office spokesperson (2020-2021 and 2005-2007), spokesperson for the constitution (2017-2021 and 2010-2015), culture and sport spokesperson (2010-2015), justice spokesperson (2007-2010), home affairs spokesperson (2007-2010), international development spokesperson (2005-2010), culture, media and sport spokesperson (2001-2010), opposition whip (2001-2007) and transport spokesperson (2001-2005).

Wishart resigned from the SNP frontbench in December 2022 following Stephen Flynn’s election as Westminster Leader, replacing Ian Blackford. Contemporary reports suggested forces within the SNP group at Westminster, supportive of Flynn’s prospective candidacy, had applied pressure on Blackford to quit his post. At the time, Flynn dismissed suggestions he was “on manoeuvres” – supported by a band of “men in grey kilts” – with a view to ousting Blackford. 

Wishart was a close ally of Blackford. In his resignation letter, the veteran SNP MP said he was “bemused” by the leadership change. He argued that the SNP was at its best “when we collaborate as a united party” and urged the new leadership to “keep this at the forefront of their mind and work in that spirit across the party”.

He wrote: “We never had an opportunity to discuss your plans for the group, neither when you were canvassing opinion for a leadership challenge, nor at any point during the very short campaign for the leadership itself…

“I remain bemused as to the reasons why you felt it was necessary to seek a change in our leadership.”

Wishart was chair of the Scottish affairs select committee from June 2015 until the dissolution of parliament in May 2024. By virtue of this role, Wishart was a member of the liaison committee across the same period.

In February 2025, Wishart condemned the Labour government under Keir Starmer, saying it had killed any “hope and positivity.”

In a blog post, he wrote: “All Labour had to be after 14 miserable years was not the Tories! Instead of creating a feel-good factor following their election they proclaimed that things were going to get worse, and all they had to offer was even more pain. New governments get one chance to set a mood, and Labour blew it.”

In March 2024, Wishart criticised Huma Yousaf, the then first minister, for calling on voters to “make history” by making Scotland “Tory free”. Wishart said that “almost 20,000 people voted Tory in my constituency and they have a right to have their view and vote respected.”

Wishart considered running in the 2018 SNP depute leadership election but declined the opportunity after finding he did not have “sufficient support within the party.” The veteran SNP MP had intended to campaign on a platform of pragmatism regarding a possible second Scottish independence referendum.

He stated: “I firmly believe that a referendum should take place at the optimum time for success taking into account external features such as the increasing concerns around Brexit, and to proceed only when we have sufficient evidence that it could be won.

“There are certain issues I could have perhaps ducked or de-emphasised in order to better assist me in any depute leader contest, but anyone who knows me knows that this is not something I would be prepared to do. I will always speak out on what I believe is in the best interests of my country.”

Wishart has also been a member of the Scottish affairs committee (2008-2010) and the administration committee (2005-2008).

Wishart is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for air ambulances, beer, haemophilia and contaminated blood, intellectual property, music and writers.

Wishart delivered his maiden speech on 12 July 2001.

In it, he said: “My constituency consists almost entirely of countryside, and particularly beautiful countryside at that. Let us do what we can to promote it and ensure that we get the best from our most prized asset – our countryside.”

He added: “I come before you, madam deputy speaker, as the first member of parliament from the world of popular music. I am reliably informed that I am the first member who has ever appeared on ‘Top of the Pops’ in his own right, so you can imagine the onerous responsibility that that places on my shoulders.

“I find it staggering that no one before me has made the journey from the stage of the concert hall to the Floor of the House of Commons, given the historic association between popular music, popular culture and politics.”

Political views

The SNP is a social democratic political party that campaigns for Scottish independence. Wishart supports the party’s aims.

Brexit referendum: Wishart supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore agreed with a majority of his constituents, 60.1% of whom voted to Remain.

Article 50: In February 2017, Wishart voted against the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The legislation empowered the prime minister to notify the Council of the European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw, formally triggering the process set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. MPs supported the bill by 498 votes to 114 at second reading.

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Wishart voted in favour of the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the 10-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union. In total, 13 Labour MPs joined the Liberal Democrats in supporting the motion, while the majority of the party abstained.

Winter fuel payment EDM: In September 2024, Wishart signed an early day motion (EDM) expressing concern over the government’s proposed changes to the winter fuel payment. The motion called on the government to “postpone the ending of winter fuel payments and establish a comprehensive strategy to tackle fuel poverty, health inequality and low incomes among older people.”

Trident renewal (2016): Wishart voted against a government motion calling for the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent system in July 2016. The motion, which was passed by 472 votes to 117, committed the UK to constructing a new fleet of submarines to carry the nation’s nuclear weapons. Labour was split over the issue with 140 of its 230 MPs going against leader Jeremy Corbyn and backing the motion.

Syria airstrikes (2015): Wishart voted against a government motion to extend UK airstrikes against Isis from Iraq into Syria in December 2015. The motion, which was passed by 397 votes to 223 after a ten-hour debate in the House of Commons, authorised the RAF to conduct strikes against Isis targets in Syria.

Syria airstrikes (2013): Wishart voted against the government’s motion on the principle of military intervention in Syria in August 2013. The government motion was defeated by 285 votes to 272, a move which effectively ruled out UK participation in any US-led military strikes.

Iraq War vote (2003): In March 2003, Wishart voted for a rebel amendment which argued that the case for war against Iraq had not been established. A total of 139 Labour, 53 Liberal Democrat and 15 Conservative MPs backed the amendment. The government’s unamended motion authorising military action against Iraq passed by 412 votes to 149.

Ceasefire vote (November 2023): Wishart voted for an SNP amendment to the king’s speech in the House of Commons calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war. Labour had tabled a rival motion, making a more moderate appeal for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict.

Palestinian recognition vote (2014): In October 2014, Wishart voted in favour of recognising Palestine as a state. The motion, passed by 274 votes to 12, called on the government to “recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution”.

Before Politics

Born in Dunfermline on 9 March 1962, Wishart was educated at Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline and later attended Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh.

Before entering politics, Wishart worked as a professional musician for 15 years. He was a keyboard player, first with the group Big Country in the early 1980s, and subsequently with the Celtic rock band Runrig from 1986.

During his time with Runrig, the band signed to Chrysalis Records and achieved significant UK and European success. Wishart has appeared on the BBC television programme Top of the Pops.

Alongside his music career, Wishart trained as a community worker. He was a director of the Fast Forward charity, which promotes healthy lifestyles for young people, and served on the Scotland Against Drugs Campaign Committee.

Personal Life

Wishart lives in Perth. He has one son.

Trivia

Wishart continues his musical activities as part of MP4, the cross-party parliamentary rock band.