The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee is expected to see a change in leadership following new party responsibilities assigned at Holyrood.
The committee, which examines matters within the remit of the cabinet secretary for climate action and rural affairs (excluding climate policy), oversees a wide range of rural issues including farming, crofting, food and drink supply chains, fisheries, aquaculture, animal welfare, wildlife crime and matters relating to Scotland’s islands.
It is made up of seven members and plays a key scrutiny role in examining rural policy and legislation affecting Scotland’s countryside and rural economy.
The convenership of the committee will be held by a member of the Scottish Green Party, with the deputy convener position allocated to the Scottish Liberal Democrats for the current parliamentary session.
Former convener Finlay Carson, of the Scottish Conservatives, held the role until April 2026, with Liberal Democrat MSP Beatrice Wishart serving as deputy convener over the same period.
The changes come as Ariane Burgess has been reappointed as the Scottish Greens’ spokesperson for rural affairs, a role she has held since May 2021, raising expectations that she will take on the role of convener of the committee.
Burgess has been an MSP since 2021.
In that time, she has held a range of rural roles in Holyrood, including serving on the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee from June 2021 to February 2023, and the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee from February 2023 to April 2025, before returning as a member in September 2025 after a period as a substitute member.
In the lead-up to the Holyrood election, Burgess told The Scottish Farmer that food production sits at the centre of Scotland’s long-term future, saying: “The food we eat is crucial to Scotland’s future climate, wellbeing and economy.”
She said the Scottish Greens would aim to support farmers and crofters through a shift towards regenerative systems, adding: “We want to work with farmers and crofters so they can produce food in a regenerative, sustainable way whilst earning enough to make a living.”
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