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| Shona Robison and Fiona Hyslop to stand down as MSPs | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Shona Robison said the time was right to stand down. | 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. |
| Shortly after her announcement, Transport Secretary Final Hyslop also confirmed she would stand down from her Linlithgow seat in 2026. | |
| Hyslop has also held multiple SNP cabinet roles, including education secretary, culture secretary and economy secretary. | |
| Like Robison, she has served as an MSP for the entire lifetime of the Scottish Parliament since 1999. | |
| Fiona Hyslop said it had been an honour to serve as an MSP | |
| 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. | 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." | "I will forever be grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to serve them." |
| Robison continued as finance secretary in John Swinney's cabinet | Robison continued as finance secretary in John Swinney's cabinet |
| Paying tribute, First Minister John Swinney said she had made a "formidable contribution" to the parliament and SNP. | Paying tribute, First Minister John Swinney said she had made a "formidable contribution" to the parliament and SNP. |
| He said: "She has been a great friend, colleague and ally to me and I am sorry she will stand down at the election. | He said: "She has been a great friend, colleague and ally to me and I am sorry she will stand down at the election. |
| "I send my warmest wishes to her for all that lies ahead." | "I send my warmest wishes to her for all that lies ahead." |
| Born in Redcar in Yorkshire, Robison worked in Glasgow City Council's social work department before being elected to Holyrood in 1999. | Born in Redcar in Yorkshire, Robison worked in Glasgow City Council's social work department before being elected to Holyrood in 1999. |
| She became an SNP list member for the north east Scotland region, before winning the Dundee East seat in 2003. | She 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. | She has held the constituency at every Holyrood election since. |
| Nicola Sturgeon and Robison have been close friends throughout their careers | Nicola Sturgeon and Robison have been close friends throughout their careers |
| 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. |
| Robison was promoted to cabinet by First Minister Alex Salmond in 2014, in the role now known as social justice secretary. | 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 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. | 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 was made deputy first minister in Humza Yousaf's government | Robison was made deputy first minister in Humza Yousaf's government |
| 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 deputy first minister. | In 2023 Humza Yousaf appointed Robison as finance secretary as well as making her 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". | Robison says she will continue to campaign for and support the SNP alongside her "lifelong goal of delivering independence for Scotland". |
| 'Better future for Scotland' | |
| Meanwhile, Fiona Hyslop said it had been an "enormous honour" to serve as an SNP MP. | |
| She said she would not seek re-election in 2026 in order to spend more time with her family. | |
| Hyslop said: "The decision to retire is entirely personal and I do it for positive reasons. | |
| "I came into politics to change things for the better. It has meant a great deal to me to have had the opportunity to serve in government. | |
| "There is still a great deal of work to be done to elect an SNP government in 2026, and I remain passionate about securing a better future for Scotland as an independent nation." |