PRESIDING officer Ken Macintosh will not seek re-election at next year’s Scottish Parliament election, he has announced.
The Labour MSP, who was first elected to the Parliament in 1999, has served as presiding officer for four years.
Macintosh said it had been a “pleasure as well as a privilege” to represent his constituents over the years.
In a statement he said: “After much reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament in May next year. It has been an honour to represent the people of East Renfrewshire and the West of Scotland for the last two decades and I would thank you for the trust you have placed in me.”
“The Scottish Parliament has delivered so much since 1999 and has grown in confidence and maturity, but there are clearly many challenges which lie ahead. The privilege of being presiding officer in this, my now final, term is something I will never forget and I will continue to do what I can to support the Parliament and the hopes and ambitions it sustains for our democracy.’
Announcing his decision to step down on Twitter, Macintosh said he was proud of what the Scottish Parliament has achieved since being re-established 21 years ago – using examples like land reform, the smoking ban and investment in public services.
He said Holyrood has helped to “build what I would describe as a new unassuming sense of self-confidence in Scotland”.
However he also indicated his concern for the future, warning “the threat to democratic politics and our liberal society looms as large as it has ever done”.
Macintosh was elected to the Eastwood constituency in 1999, holding that seat through the 2003, 2007 and 2011 Holyrood elections.
He worked as a ministerial aide to former first minister Jack McConnell, and held positions in Labour’s shadow cabinet as shadow minister for schools, culture, education, finance, social justice and community.
In 2016 he was re-elected to the Parliament as a list MSP for the West Scotland region before becoming Holyrood’s fifth presiding officer.
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