[1] He became a member of the SNP in 2005,[3] having left Labour in 2003 due to the Iraq War and lack of sufficient progress on social justice.

[1] He worked in a number of different roles and sectors, including time as a bartender, for a wave energy company and as a clerical assistant at James Gillespie's High School.

[1] In the summer of 2004 he walked from Edinburgh to London to raise awareness of the annual International Day of Peace.

[3] Tipped as "one of the SNP’s rising stars",[3] at the May 2016 Scottish Parliament election Macpherson won the seat with a 10% swing from Labour.

[11] In the subsequent ministerial reshuffle, Macpherson was appointed on 19 May as Minister for Social Security and Local Government.