STIRLING MSP Bruce Crawford has announced he is stepping down before the 2021 Holyrood election after working for the SNP for 33 years.
The 65-year-old said he will not seek reselection in May to spend more time with his family.
Crawford was first elected to Holyrood on the Mid Scotland and Fife list in 1999, winning the Stirling Constituency in 2007.
In Government, Crawford served as the Minister for Parliament Business and then as the Cabinet Secretary for Parliament and Government Strategy before stepping down from the role in 2012.
Crawford currently chairs the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee and is the Convener of the SNP’s MSP Group at Holyrood.
A statement from me on my decision to step down at the 2021 Holyrood election after 33 years as an elected representative. https://t.co/XzA2WhQkgm
— Bruce Crawford MSP (@RHBruceCrawford) February 18, 2020
He described the job as "an honour and privilege", adding: “While I am still enjoying being an MSP my wife has already retired and we have three wonderful young grandchildren for whom we want to create much more space in our lives.
“It has been an honour and privilege to serve as the MSP for the Stirling Constituency as well as to have the opportunity to be a Cabinet Secretary, a Committee Convener, the SNP Business Convener and a Council Leader all over the last 33 politically packed years.
“In the Stirling Constituency, it has been particularly great to see so much done during my time as the local MSP from a brand new college campus and new schools to a state of the art community hospital and other very modern local medical facilities.
“At Holyrood, being part of the first ever SNP government and helping to ensure stability for a minority government was challenging but very rewarding. Latterly, I have also enjoyed being the Convener of the Finance and Constitution Committee and the SNP Group Convener.”
“I will miss working with, and for, so many people in the Stirling Constituency. I will of course continue as an MSP for more than another year and during that time, I hope to say a personal thank you to the many people who have been part of my life over the years in both the Constituency and at Holyrood.
“With the opinion polls now in our favour I believe Scottish independence is inevitable – and it’s coming soon. And when that bright day dawns I look forward to watching my grandchildren grow and prosper in our independent future.”
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