[1] Grant was born in 1963 in Stornoway, Outer Hebrides and studied for a degree in social sciences from the Open University.

Prior to her election, Grant worked for the trade union UNISON and Highland Regional Council.

[2] In the 2003 election, she fought the Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber constituency but came second to Fergus Ewing of the Scottish National Party, who held the seat by 1,000 votes.

[9] Grant defended Richard Leonard after calls for him to resign in September 2020, saying: The crisis facing our country requires bold thinking and it requires a united Scottish Labour Party, under the leadership of Richard Leonard, fighting for the real change we need.

[11] Grant was one of 5 Labour MSPs who was absent for a Scottish Parliament vote calling for the UK Government to reverse its decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment.