Labour MSP is standing down to put family first

Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra’s decision not to seek 2021 Scottish Parliament reelection has been met with sympathy from prominent rivals who say they understand her desire to put family before politics.

Holyrood Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson and SNP communities secre tar y Aileen Campbell were among the fellow mums to react to the Labour figure’s weekend announcement she will not contest the Dundee City West seat next year.

Ms Ma r r a said she remained “steadfastly committed” to the party and described serving the city as “the privilege of my life”.

But the 43-year-old said her job is taking her away from her children too frequently during weekdays, evenings and even weekends.

Ms Marra gave birth to her second son at Ninewells Hospital in April.

Ms Davidson described Ms Marra’s decision as “Holyrood’s loss”.

She tweeted: “Ach, Jenny, that’s Holyrood’s loss – and a big one.

“But having met your beautiful boys, I completely understand why you don’t want to be away from them.

“It’s time you never get back. Big love. R”

Clydeside SNP MSP Ms Campbell has also announced she will not be seeking re-election in order to devote more time to her family.

She said: “Even though our politics are different, with some insight, I know this decision won’t have been easy, that stepping back from frontline politics will ne ver diminish a commitment to what you believe in, and that you may feel a bitty better now that it’s ‘out there’. Take care.”

Former Stirling Labour MP Dame Anne McGuire wrote: “So sorry you’re leaving the frontline.

“Labour cannot afford to lose someone of your commitment.”

Ms Marra’s decision was confirmed in a weekend letter to the city branch.

However she has not ruled out returning to a role within the Labour Party in the future and said she would continue to fight to get the party “back to government in Scotland”.

She wrote: “As you know, my second son arrived this year.

“I have decided that my role as MSP takes me away from my young children too much during the week in Edinburgh but also at e vening mee tings and weekend commitments.

“I know that working mothers everywhere balance commitments, but I have taken the decision to spend these early years with my children and would hope to serve the party again at some point in the future.”

She added: “It has been the privilege of my life to

represent the people of north-east Scotland and to speak on behalf of the citizens of Dundee in many campaigns over my 10 years in parliament.

“I am proud to have campaigned long and hard for decommissioning work in Dundee and for greater investment in the city.

“I learned so much from my parliamentary role: chairing the audit

committee for the past five years, taking the human trafficking Bill to the statute book and standing up for women’s sex-based rights in the face of aggressive challenge.

“For all these opportunities I am grateful to the Labour voters in Dundee and north- east Scotland and to local party members for their trust, advice and support.”

Ms Marra also said she remains committed to the Labour Party.

She added: “I believe that Scotland needs a strong and appealing L abour Party, with ideas to address the economic challenges that Covid has exacerbated, and to challenge the economic inertia of nationalist rule.

“This will take a group of people who can run at this with all the energy and flexibility that political life requires. At the moment, it

would not be fair to the party and our voters for me to give less than the 150% that I would wish to.

“I remain steadfastly committed to our party, its values and our goals, as I have been over the last 26 years.

“I intend to continue to play my part in getting Labour back to government in Scotland and the UK to improve public services and give all families the hope of a more secure and prosperous future.

“Thank you for the opportunity to serve. It has been a privilege.”

Ms Marra was re-elected to Holyrood as a regional MSP for North East Scotland in 2016 after losing out to the SNP’s Joe FitzPatrick in the Dundee City West seat. Her departure leaves Labour searching for a new candidate to contest the constituency.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve. It has been a privilege

POLITICS: Dundee-based Labour MSP Jenny Marra has decided not to seek 2021 Scottish Parliament re-election.