SNP minister Christina McKelvie dies aged 57

First Minister John Swinney has led emotional tributes to a "kind, loyal and fun-loving colleague" following the death of Scottish government minister Christina McKelvie.

The drugs and alcohol minister stepped back from her duties last summer after announcing she had secondary breast cancer.

She died aged 57 at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Thursday morning. McKelvie's partner and SNP depute leader Keith Brown described her as a beloved mother-of-two, partner and grandmother who "lit up every room she was in with her positivity and bright smile".

McKelvie had been MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse since May 2011, having initially been elected as a Central Scotland representative in 2007.

She recovered from breast cancer in 2021 but was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in June.

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