Roseanna to stand down after 25 years
Scotland’s longest serving parliamentarian is set to stand down after a quarter of a century representing communities in Perth and Kinross.
Roseanna Cunningham has informed her local constituency association she will not seek re-election in 2021.
She has said it has been a “massive honour” to represent the region in both Westminster and the Scottish Parliament for the past 25 years.
Ms Cunningham, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinrossshire, thanked her constituents for all of their support.
Ms Cunningham said: “I have always been hugely
I have always been hugely grateful to all those who have put their faith in me
grateful to all those who have put their faith in me.
“In the first instance, the local members of the SNP for selecting me as their candidate and working so hard during and between election campaigns but, above all, the voters of the constituencies I have represented through various boundary changes for voting for me and the party.
“In doing so they made history by making Perth and Kinross the first seat that the SNP would win at a by-election and hold at the subsequent byelection, and they ensured that I became the longestserving current Scottish parliamentarian.
“The support of one’s constituents is not only essential for political success, it is immensely humbling and I am very thankful for it.
“It has been a great privilege too to have been in government since 2009 and in three different portfolios: first as environment minister then community safety minister then in cabinet as cabinet secretary for fair work, skills and training and then back to my original portfolio but this time as cabinet secretary for environment, climate change and land reform.”
Ms Cunningham pointed to the fact that, by the time the next election rolls around, she will be almost 70 years old.
She said: “This year, of all years, has made age a rather more relevant factor than it may otherwise have been.
“I have, accordingly, taken the very difficult decision to inform my local constituency association that I will not be seeking nomination as an SNP candidate for the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.”
Ms Cunningham was first elected to Westminster at a byelection in 1995, representing the Perth and Kinross constituency, and re-elected at the 1997 general election for the redrawn and renamed constituency of Perth, making her the first SNP by-election victor to hold the seat at the subsequent general election.
On the establishment of the Scottish Parliament she was elected as the MSP for Perth in 1999, re-elected to represent that constituency in 2003 and 2007, then the redrawn and renamed constituency of Perthshire South and Kinrossshire in 2011 and 2016.
Despite the decision, Ms Cunningham insisted she is not done with politics.
She added: “As I have done almost my entire life, I will continue to fight for independence and look forward to the next referendum - which we will win.”
Tributes poured in after news of Ms Cunningham’s decision became public.
Pete Wishart MP said he was “immensely saddened” by the news. He added: “Roseanna is Scotland’s longest serving politician and I am saddened that we will be losing her wisdom and experience.
“I am reassured that Roseanna will not be giving up politics completely and that she will continue in her desire to see Scottish independence delivered.”