Stephen Gethins is the Scottish National Party (SNP) MSP for Dundee City East, having first been elected at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Gethins previously served as MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, having returned to parliament at the 2024 general election, and before that as the MP for North East Fife from 2015 to 2019.

In the 2024 general election for the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency, Gethins received 15,581 votes, representing 35.3% of the vote share. The Labour candidate, Cheryl-Ann Cruickshank, came second with 14,722 votes (33.4%), while the Conservative candidate, Richard Brooks, secured 6,841 votes (15.5%). Gethins was duly elected with a majority of 859.

The Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency was formed ahead of the 2024 general election from the former Dundee East and Angus seats. Both constituencies were represented by the SNP before the 2024 election. 

Gethins succeeded former Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell as the MP for North East Fife at the 2015 general election. 

Political Career 

Gethins was appointed as minister for Europe, external affairs and energy in the Scottish government upon his election to the Scottish Parliament in May 2026.

Gethins resigned his seat at Westminster upon his election to the Scottish Parliament. He served as the SNP Westminster spokesperson for international affairs and Scotland form 2024 to 2026.

In October 2024, Gethins presented a private members’ bill (PMB), the Devolution (Immigration) (Scotland) Bill. It sought to amend the Scotland Act 1998 to grant legislative competence to the Scottish Parliament in respect of immigration.

In April 2025, Gethins was among the group of MPs placed on a sanctions list by the Russian government. The measure barred them from entering Russia and was presented by Moscow as a retaliatory response to the UK’s stance on the invasion of Ukraine.

During his first stint in parliament, Gethins held several frontbench positions. He served as the SNP spokesperson for foreign and commonwealth affairs (July 2018 – November 2019), spokesperson for international affairs and Europe (June 2017 – July 2018) and spokesperson for Europe (May – June 2017).

Gethins sat as a member of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee (2015-2019).

Gethins held his North East Fife seat by just two votes at the 2017 general election following three recounts. His victory margin of two represented the joint-third smallest majority in British political history.

Gethins was unseated at the 2019 general election. The Liberal Democrat candidate, Wendy Chamberlain, won 19,763 votes (43.1%) and a majority of 1,316 over Gethins in second place. 

Gethins was the only SNP MP to lose their seat in 2019.

Gethins now serves as a member of the all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) for Russia and democracy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Syria and university.

Gethins delivered his House of Commons maiden speech on 27 May 2015 during a debate on the queen’s speech. 

In it, he said: “Today in the queen’s speech we heard proposals about a referendum on our membership of the EU. We on these benches fully intend to make a positive case for Scotland’s and the UK’s continued membership of the EU, and you will be pleased to learn, Mr Speaker, that we have some experience with referendums on these benches.”

He added: “The Scottish referendum – regardless of whether people voted yes or no – illustrated what happens when we have an open and positive debate. It was an enriching experience for our democracy and everybody in Scotland.”

Political Views 

The SNP is a social democratic political party that campaigns for Scottish independence. 

Gethins was listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for fair elections – a cross-party group of MPs and peers that campaigns for electoral reform. The group’s stated aims include replacing the first past the post (FPTP) voting system with a form of proportional representation, eliminating “dark money” and “undemocratic influence” from politics, and countering disinformation.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: Gethins supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore agreed with a majority of his constituents, 63.7% of whom also voted to Remain.

Article 50: In February 2017, Gethins 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, Gethins 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.

Welfare

Winter fuel payment EDM: In September 2024, Gethins 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.”

Foreign policy and security

Trident renewal (2016): Gethins 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): Gethins 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.

Before Politics 

Born Stephen Patrick Gethins on 28 March 1976 in Glasgow, he was raised in Perth and attended Perth Academy.

Gethins studied at the University of Dundee, graduating in 1998. He subsequently gained a master’s degree from the University of Kent.

Following his studies, Gethins worked in the NGO sector in areas affected by conflict. 

Before his election to parliament, Gethins worked as a special adviser to Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond. He then advised Nicola Sturgeon, who succeeded Salmond as first minister in 2014. 

Gethins also served as a political advisor with the Committee of the Regions in the European Union and worked at Scotland Europa. 

Gethins stood as an SNP candidate in the 2014 European Parliament election but was not elected.

After losing his parliamentary seat in 2019, Gethins was appointed professor of practice in international relations at the University of St Andrews. 

In 2020, he chaired ‘eu+me’. This campaign advocated for a close relationship between Scotland and the EU. 

Personal Life 

Gethins lives in Fife with his wife. They have two children.

He is a trustee of the John Smith Trust.

Trivia 

Gethins authored the book Nation to Nation: Scotland’s Place in the World (2021).