Simita Kumar
Simita Kumar | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Minister for Equalities and International Development | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2026 | |
| First Minister | John Swinney |
| Preceded by | Kaukab Stewart |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh South Western | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Majority | 3,289 (10.2%) |
| Member of City of Edinburgh Council | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2022 | |
| Constituency | Southside/Newington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 1987 (age 39) |
| Party | Scottish National Party |
Simita Kumar (born September 1987) is a Fiji-born Scottish politician who was elected to the Scottish Parliament in the 2026 election. She represents Edinburgh South Western as a member of the Scottish National Party. She became the Minister for Equalities and International Development in 2026.
Biography
Kumar was born in Fiji to a Indo-Fijian family. She immigrated to the UK when she was 17. In 2022, Simita Kumar was elected to represent Southside/Newington on City of Edinburgh Council. She led the SNP group on the council. She was the first party group leader from an ethnic minority. She stood in Edinburgh South in the 2024 United Kingdom general election. She came in second place behind Ian Murray from the Labour Party.
Kumar was the Scottish National Party candidate for the Edinburgh South Western constituency in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, and 3rd on the party list in Edinburgh and Lothians East. She was elected constituency MSP, taking 36% of the vote. Catriona Munro took second place for the Labour Party with 26% of the vote. She stood down as leader of Edinburgh council's SNP group and she was replaced by Lesley Macinnes.
in May 2026, she was appointed to the Scottish government as Minister for Equalities and International Development by John Swinney.
References
- 1 2 "Meet the rising star councillor now standing for Westminster". The National. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ Chalmers, Ross (1 May 2026). "SNP "rising star" proud of party's record in government". Deadline News. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ↑ Turvill, Donald (1 May 2024). "First person of colour elected to lead Edinburgh Council political group". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ Inquirer, Edinburgh. "Rising SNP star makes history as first ethnic minority woman leader". www.edinburghinquirer.co.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ↑ Turvill, Donald (1 May 2024). "First person of colour elected to lead Edinburgh Council political group". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ↑ "Edinburgh South - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ "3 councillors put their names forward to stand for Scottish Parliament". Edinburgh News. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (8 May 2026). "Simita Kumar secures Edinburgh South Western for the SNP". Deadline News. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
- ↑ "SNP 'rising star' quits as council group leader after being elected to Holyrood". The Herald. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "SNP elect new group leader after councillor resigns to take Holyrood seat". The National. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (20 May 2026). "Edinburgh councillor becomes junior minister in new cabinet". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 21 May 2026.