Bruce Crawford, SNP MSP for Stirling, has announced he will not contest the seat at the next Scottish Parliament election in 2021.
Crawford, who was first elected as a list MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife in 1999 and then as the constituency MSP for Stirling in 2007, is one of just 18 MSP’s to have served from the Scottish Parliament’s inception in 1999 until 2021.
Before his election to the Scottish Parliament he served as a local councillor for several years, becoming the leader of Perth and Kinross council from 1995 until 1999.
During his career in the Scottish parliament, which spans two decades, Crawford has served as a member of the Scottish Government in various positions, including Minister for Parliament Business between 2007 and 2011 and latterly as Cabinet Secretary for Parliament and Government Strategy from 2011-2012.
Crawford has sat on the backbenches since then but still holds key positions within the Parliament such as Convenor of the Finance and Constitution Committee and Convenor of the SNP MSP’s within the Scottish Parliament.
Commenting on the announcement, Crawford said:
“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.”
Looking to the future, Crawford added:
“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.”
Featured image credit: City of Stirling SNP
