NICOLA Sturgeon was among the politicians from across the political spectrum who have paid tribute to one of the long-serving SNP MSPs who announced she is to stand down next year.

The First Minister, who represents the Glasgow Southside constituency, gave her response on social media yesterday after Sandra White revealed she will not be fighting to retain her Glasgow Kelvin seat in May next year.

“Sorry to see @SandraWhiteSN stand down. She and I have been Glasgow MSPs together ever since 1999. The city – as well as @ScotParl and @theSNP – will miss her,” she wrote on Twitter.

Labour’s Pauline McNeill, who lost her seat in the 2011 election to White but was re-elected on the list in 2016, gave her good wishes too.I have the greatest admiration for Sandra. She won Glasgow Kelvin from me in 2011 and we have worked together since. We travelled to Gaza by boat in 2008 to break the siege and Jerusalem 2012 with late Gerald Kaufman MP to talk to Palestinian families. All the best Sandra,” McNeill wrote.

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The Labour MSP was congratulated on her warm words.

SNP activist Suzanne McLaughlin noted: “What a lovely thing to say Pauline. You’re a class act.”

Margaret Smith, a former LibDem MSP, also paid tribute to White on Twitter. She wrote: “Wishing you all the best Sandra for a happy ‘retirement’.

“You deserve all the good wishes. Hard-working, constituency focussed with a passion for the causes you believe in .... in short ... the kind of politician folk should aspire to be. xx.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who is also to stand down next year, said: “Many of us will be sorry to see @SandraWhiteSNP leave Holyrood, not least her constituents.

“Passionate, caring and dedicated – Thanks Sandra.”

Alison Thewliss, the SNP MP and shadow chancellor, said: “Sandra White has been an outstanding constituency MSP, and has fought so hard for her constituents over the decades.

“I wish her all the very best for a long and happy retirement – her successor has a tough act to follow.”

Keith Brown, the SNP deputy leader, said: “Sad to hear your decision Sandra, but great to hear that you are carrying on the cause. You’ve already put in a fantastic stint for our country’s independence. See you, again, at the head of the march!”

White, 69, first contested Glasgow Kelvin in 1999, where she came second to McNeill by 4408 votes, but was elected to the Scottish Parliament on the Glasgow regional list. She was re-elected in 2003, topping the SNP’s list of candidates for the region. Contesting Glasgow Kelvin that year she again came second to Labour, this time by the smaller margin of 3289 votes.

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White was re-elected on the regional list in 2007. In the 2011 election, she again contested the Glasgow Kelvin seat, this time defeating the sitting McNeill by 882 votes.

White served as an SNP parliamentary group whip in the first parliamentary session and sat on the parliament’s Public Petitions Committee and Equal Opportunities Committee.

White currently sits as the SNP’s member on the Scottish Parliamentary corporate body which runs the Holyrood estate.

Praised as a strong advocate for her constituents, her campaigns include fighting closures and downgrading of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill and the Queen Mother’s Hospital. Despite her work both ultimately were shut.

She has also campaigned against racism and for improved treatment of asylum seekers, including joining an occupation against dawn raids.

Her other campaigns have included the successful attempts to save the 7:84 theatre group from threatened loss of funding by the Scottish Arts Council and involvement in Stop the War Coalition events.

White said while she is stepping down she will remain active in her community.