Boyack set to replace Dugdale at Holyrood

A former Scottish cabinet secretary who served under Donald Dewar will return to Holyrood to replace Kezia Dugdale when the former Scottish Labour leader quits front line politics this summer.

Sarah Boyack will take the list seat set to be vacated by Ms Dugdale, who on Monday announced her decision to stand down and take up a role as director of the John Smith Centre for Public Service at Glasgow University.

Ms Boyack said she was returning to deal with “unfinished business”.

Currently head of public affairs with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, she was an MSP for Edinburgh Central constituency from the very first days of the Scottish Parliament, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

She served as minister for the environment, planning and transport in the first two years of the new Scottish Executive before becoming minister for transport, during which time she introduced free bus travel for people over 60 and disabled people.

While she lost her seat in the 2011 election to the SNP’S Marco Biagi, she still returned to Holyrood as a list MSP. However, in the 2016 Holyrood elections Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson won the constituency.