Mackay first entered politics with an internship with the Scottish Greens at Holyrood.[5] She received the internship through a program which aimed to support disabled people in politics.[5] She subsequently went on to become a Regional Campaign Support Officer for the Lothian region.
She is the Scottish Greens' spokesperson for health and social care,[7] and currently sits on the Parliamentary Bureau for the party.[8]
Mackay lodged the draft proposal for her Members Bill, "the Abortion Services Safe Access Zones (Scotland)", on the 18 May 2023; with the final proposal lodged on 15 June 2023. The consultation for the Bill received 11,827 personal responses and 52 organisational responses.[9] The Bill subsequently received support from MSP's from all Parties in the Parliament and Mackay secured the right for the Bill to be introduced on the 5th October 2023.[10] Formal introduction of the Bill to the Scottish Parliament was completed on the 5th of October 2023. [11] The bill passed the Scottish Parliament with a near unanimous support, passing 118-1. [12]
Personal life
Her mother, Audrey, was a music teacher in Falkirk. She died in December 2020.[6] She also has a sister and a brother.[13]