Ullrich stood unsuccessfully as an SNP candidate at several general elections:
Cunninghame South (Both at the 1983 and 1987 UK general elections) and
Motherwell South at the 1992 general election with
Andrew Wilson as her election agent. The sudden death of Labour Leader
John Smith in May 1994 triggered the
Monklands East by-election, where Ullrich also stood as an SNP candidate. She reduced Labour's majority at the election, but was defeated by Labour's candidate
Helen Liddell. At the
1999 Scottish Parliament election, Ullrich stood as a constituency candidate in
Cunninghame North, where she was runner-up to
Allan Wilson. However, as she had been placed second on the SNP's West of Scotland list, she was able to enter Parliament as a regional list Member. By November, squabbles between Wilson and her around who might represent a constituent led to the deputy presiding officer
George Reid stepping in to work towards clarifying the roles of constituency and regional list Members. The "Reid Principles" were set out, incorporated into the Members of Scottish Parliament code of conduct and endorsed by Parliament. During her time in Parliament, Ullrich served as deputy convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee (2000–03) and convener of the
Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill committee (January–March 2003). She was also a member of the Health and Community Care Committee (1999–2003) and the Procedures Committee (2000–01). The following year, future First Minister
John Swinney replaced Salmond as SNP leader and days later, on 26 September 2000, she was appointed
Chief Whip, a role which she held until the dissolution of parliament. She stood down at the
2003 election. After her parliamentary career, she worked as a safeguarder with the
Children's Panel. losing to
Ian Hudghton. In 1987, sixteen-year-old
Nicola Sturgeon approached Ullrich to work on her general election campaign. Ullrich later supported Sturgeon when she stood for selection as a candidate in
Glasgow Shettleston in 1992, stating "This lady here will be the first female leader of the SNP one day". Ullrich was a member of
UNISON.
Recognition Ullrich was presented, posthumously, (received by her widower and granddaughter) with the SNP President's Prize by
Michael Russell at the SNP party conference in November 2021, in recognition of her "exceptional active commitment to the SNP and
Scottish Independence". The conference was held virtually due the restrictions imposed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The award was initiated by Winnie Ewing. Ms Sturgeon, in acknowledging Ullrich's deserved award for her contribution said that ' I wouldn't be standing here today as First Minister of Scotland without the influence, the support, the
mentoring of over decades of Kay Ullrich'. ==Personal life==