Malcolm Offord, Reform
Reform UK's Malcolm Offord gained attention after disclosing during a televised election debate that he owns six boats, along with six houses and five cars. The former banker made this statement to highlight his experience beyond politics.
Born in Greenock, Lord Offord describes his background as "lower-middle class". He studied law at the University of Edinburgh, sharing with the BBC's Scotcast that he survived on Scotch pies and beans during his studies and continues to eat a Scotch pie most days.
Offord pursued a banking career in London and later founded the investment firm Badenoch and Co. In 2021, he was granted a life peerage by Boris Johnson and assumed a ministerial role in the UK government. After switching allegiance to Reform, he stepped back from the House of Lords.
John Swinney, SNP
First Minister John Swinney was born and raised in Edinburgh and attended the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a politics degree in 1986.
Despite being Scotland's longest-serving elected parliamentarian, Swinney had a professional life before politics. After university, he worked on the Scottish Coal Project and spent five years at Scottish Amicable Life Assurance.
Anas Sarwar, Labour
Anas Sarwar often highlights his previous career as an NHS dentist. He is the son of Mohammad Sarwar, the UK's first Muslim MP and a millionaire businessman. Sarwar attended Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow, a private institution, before studying dentistry at the University of Glasgow.
He worked as an NHS dentist in Paisley for five years before succeeding his father as MP for Glasgow Central in 2010.
Russell Findlay, Conservatives
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay is relatively new to frontline politics, having been first elected as an MSP in 2021. Originally from Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, he studied journalism at Edinburgh Napier University.
Findlay spent 30 years working for various media outlets including the Sunday Mail, Scottish Sun, and STV, becoming a well-known organised crime reporter. In 2015, while working for The Scottish Sun, he survived an acid attack by a man disguised as a postman who came to his door. Findlay made a full recovery and the attacker was jailed.
His political career began in 2020 when he joined the Scottish Conservatives as director of communications.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Lib Dems
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton moved to Scotland from Hertfordshire, England, during childhood. He attended school in St Andrews and studied politics and international relations at the University of Aberdeen.
After graduating, Cole-Hamilton worked for children's charities including YouthLink Scotland and Aberlour. He made several unsuccessful attempts to be elected to Holyrood before winning the Edinburgh Western seat in 2016.
Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer, Greens
Scottish Green co-leaders Gillian Mackay and Ross Greer have both experienced rapid ascents into frontline politics.
Mackay, from Grangemouth, studied marine biotechnology and biodiversity at Heriot-Watt University. She describes herself as an "accidental" MSP, having applied for a Green Party internship due to limited opportunities in marine science. She later worked as a party staffer before being elected to Holyrood in 2021 at age 29.
Greer, from Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, left a politics and psychology degree early to work with Yes Scotland ahead of the 2014 independence referendum. At 21, he became Holyrood's youngest-ever MSP when elected in 2016.
