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Finance Secretary Shona Robison to stand down as MSP | Finance Secretary Shona Robison to stand down as MSP |
(31 minutes later) | |
Shona Robison said the time was right to stand down. | |
Finance secretary Shona Robison has announced she will stand down at the next Holyrood election after 27 years as an MSP. | Finance secretary Shona Robison has announced she will stand down at the next Holyrood election after 27 years as an MSP. |
Robison, the MSP for Dundee City East, has held several roles in SNP governments including health secretary and social justice secretary. | Robison, the MSP for Dundee City East, has held several roles in SNP governments including health secretary and social justice secretary. |
She became deputy first minister under Humza Yousaf in 2023, but was replaced by Kate Forbes in John Swinney's government last year. | She became deputy first minister under Humza Yousaf in 2023, but was replaced by Kate Forbes in John Swinney's government last year. |
Robison said the time was right to "take on some new challenges" and make a different contribution to public life. | Robison said the time was right to "take on some new challenges" and make a different contribution to public life. |
She said: "After careful consideration and reflection, I have decided that I will not seek re-election. | |
"I am deeply proud of my ministerial contributions and achievements." | "I am deeply proud of my ministerial contributions and achievements." |
She added: "The best moments over my time at Holyrood have come from representing and supporting my constituents. | She added: "The best moments over my time at Holyrood have come from representing and supporting my constituents. |
"I will forever be grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to serve them." | |
Robison was deputy first minister in Humza Yousaf's government | Robison was deputy first minister in Humza Yousaf's government |
Robison has been an MSP for the lifetime of the Scottish Parliament. | |
Born in Redcar in Yorkshire, she worked in Glasgow City Council's social work department before being elected to Holyrood in 1999. | |
Robison became an SNP list member for the north east Scotland region, before winning the Dundee East seat in 2003. | |
She has held the constituency at every Holyrood election since. | |
When the SNP first entered government in 2007 Robison was made public health minister. | When the SNP first entered government in 2007 Robison was made public health minister. |
She next took on a sports brief, overseeing preparations for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. | She next took on a sports brief, overseeing preparations for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. |
Nicola Sturgeon and Robison have been close friends throughout their careers | |
Robison was promoted to cabinet by First Minister Alex Salmond in 2014, in the role now known as social justice secretary. | |
She was given a further promotion within the year, as health secretary under new first minister Nicola Sturgeon. | |
She has been a close friend of Sturgeon throughout their political careers, since the pair were part of the SNP youth wing together. | She has been a close friend of Sturgeon throughout their political careers, since the pair were part of the SNP youth wing together. |
Robison's tenure as health secretary saw increased government spending and the NHS Scotland workforce hitting a record high - but she faced mounting pressures over NHS performance. | |
This pressure grew following a series of financial issues at the health board in her own constituency, NHS Tayside. | This pressure grew following a series of financial issues at the health board in her own constituency, NHS Tayside. |
Robison remained as finance secretary in John Swinney's cabinet | |
Robison quit as health secretary in 2018 saying it had been a "very challenging" role. | Robison quit as health secretary in 2018 saying it had been a "very challenging" role. |
The period also saw a high-profile split from her partner of 20 years - SNP MP Stewart Hosie. | The period also saw a high-profile split from her partner of 20 years - SNP MP Stewart Hosie. |
After three years on the Holyrood backbenches, she returned to cabinet in 2021 as Sturgeon's social justice secretary. | After three years on the Holyrood backbenches, she returned to cabinet in 2021 as Sturgeon's social justice secretary. |
She oversaw the introduction of the SNP's controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - which saw the party's biggest-ever backbench rebellion since it came to power. | She oversaw the introduction of the SNP's controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill - which saw the party's biggest-ever backbench rebellion since it came to power. |
In 2023 Humza Yousaf appointed Robison as finance secretary as well as making her his deputy first minister. | |
She retained the finance brief under John Swinney in 2024, however the deputy first minister role was given to Kate Forbes. | She retained the finance brief under John Swinney in 2024, however the deputy first minister role was given to Kate Forbes. |
Robison says she will continue to campaign for and support the SNP alongside her "lifelong goal of delivering independence for Scotland". |