iStockA by-election to succeed the late MSP Christina McKelvie will take place on June 5, Holyrood’s presiding officer has said.
Alison Johnstone informed MSPs of the by-election date to fill McKelvie’s Holyrood vacancy on Monday morning – five days after her funeral at Daldowie Crematorium on Thursday.
The long-standing MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse died at the age of 57 in early April at Glasgow Royal Infirmary after a lengthy battle with secondary breast cancer.
McKelvie announced in August that she would be taking medical leave due to treatment for secondary breast cancer.
She served in the Scottish Parliament since 2007 and became the minister for drugs and acohol policy last year.
In the wake of her death, hundreds of tributes were paid to the SNP politician with many MSPs from across all parties praising her “kindness and compassion” in politics and in life.
The SNP has said councillor Katy Loudon will seek to retain the seat for the party.
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