TWO Scottish Conservative MSPs have been named in the New Year Honours list.
Tory parliamentarians Liz Smith and Pam Gosal have been given a CBE and MBE respectively.
Smith, an MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has been given the honour “for services to sport”.
Gosal has been given an MBE “for services to business, to racial equality, and to charity in Milton Keynes”.
Smith won seven caps with the Scottish Ladies’ Cricket XI and is also a former president of the Scottish Women’s Cricket Association. She no longer plays professionally but is still involved in the sport through coaching.
The MSP, who was elected to Holyrood in 2007, has also climbed all 282 Munros.
She said: “It is the greatest privilege to be honoured with a CBE for services to sport.
“It was completely unexpected, and I want to publicly thank those who nominated me.
“Sport has always been a very large part of my life but so too has working with so many wonderful volunteers who do so much to ensure sport is available to all, most especially at the grassroots. This honour reflects their dedication.”
Gosal (above) was elected as an MSP for the West Scotland region in May 2021, making history as the first Indian Sikh MSP – and one of the first women of colour – in the Scottish Parliament.
She is also the co-founder and co-chair of the Scottish Conservative Friends of BAME group.
Gosal said: “It is the honour of my lifetime to be given this award from His Majesty the King.
“I never expected that someone from my background, after losing my father and big sister in my teenage years and leaving school without any qualifications, would be in this position today.
“I am very grateful to receive this award and proud to have my hard work recognised.
“Thank you to everyone who helped me to promote charities, support businesses, and improve racial equality.
“This award has given me even more motivation to continue my work and I look forward to helping more charities and businesses in 2024 and beyond.”
In total, more than 100 Scots were given honours in the New Year list.
Among the most prestigious, author Alexander McCall Smith was knighted and Professor Sir Jim McDonald, the principal of the University of Strathclyde, has been appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.
McDonald’s new title is the most senior rank of the Order of the British Empire, with fewer than 115 appointed in the last 60 years and only 27 in the 21st century.
Actor Arabella Weir was awarded an MBE, while former Scotland and Rangers manager Alex McLeish was given an OBE.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack released a statement congratulating “all the Scottish recipients of the King’s New Year Honours”, but did not mention his party colleagues Smith or Gosal by name.
"This year, more than 100 Scots have been awarded honours. The achievements of such a diverse number of our fellow Scots is truly inspiring,” Jack said.
