Pete Wishart

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Pete Wishart is a Scottish National Party politician and musician. Born on 9 March 1962 in Dunfermline, Scotland, he has been the Member of Parliament for Perth and Kinross-shire since 2024. He previously represented Perth and North Perthshire from 2005 to 2024 and North Tayside from 2001 to 2005. Wishart serves as the SNP’s Deputy Leader in the House of Commons and has been the chair of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee from 2015 to 2024.

Before entering Parliament, Wishart built a career in music. He was a keyboard player with the Celtic rock band Runrig for about 15 years and earlier played with Big Country. He helped form the parliamentary rock group MP4. He studied at Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline and Moray House College of Education, and he now lives in Perth with his son.

In Parliament, Wishart has been a long-serving SNP MP and has held several roles, including SNP Westminster Spokesperson for the Constitution and for Culture and Sport, and Chief Whip. He has campaigned on issues such as parliamentary reform and copyright. He voted against the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Wishart has also been involved in debates about Scotland’s constitutional future, including how a potential new independence mandate might be pursued, and discussions about Scotland’s place in the European Union after Brexit.

Notable moments include suggesting reforms to the Palace of Westminster and, in 2018, holding up a placard that read “nul points” during a Brexit question to Prime Minister Theresa May. He has commented on federalism as part of the UK’s constitutional discussion and has talked about a phased approach for Scotland’s relationship with the EU. Wishart did not run for the SNP Depute Leadership in 2018. In 2024, he criticized Humza Yousaf’s strategy for the general election.