Former SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said he will stand down at the next election.
In a statement released this evening, he said he has thought “long and hard” about his decision as he thanked his colleagues and wife for their support.
Mr Blackford said it has been an “enormous privilege” to serve as the MP for Ross, Skye & Lochaber since 2015 and that he was “honoured” to lead the SNP in Westminster for more than five years between 2017 and 2022.
His successor Stephen Flynn led the tributes, describing him as a "stalwart" of the party.
Mr Blackford said: "Having stood down as SNP Westminster leader, I have gone through a period of reflection as to how I can best assist the party and the cause of independence - a cause I have campaigned for since joining the SNP as a teenager in the 1970s.
“My desire to see Scotland become an independent country, and for our country and its people to achieve its full potential, remains as strong as when I first entered politics decades ago.
“Although I will not be standing for the Westminster Parliament at the next election, I look forward to playing my part in the continuing campaign for Scottish Independence and supporting our First Minister and the SNP as we go forward to the next election and beyond.”
First elected in the SNP wave at the 2015 election, Mr Blackford took over as Westminster SNP leader from Angus Robertson in 2017 - when the now Scottish Constitution Secretary lost his seat - and was regarded as a strong ally of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon
In his statement, he added: "I would like to thank all of those who have supported me in my role as an MP. In particular, the staff in my leader’s role and my constituency staff have done an outstanding job and it has been a pleasure to work with each and every one of them. Any success we have had has been down to them, we truly have been a team. I have welcomed their wise counsel, support and friendship.
"My last word of thanks must go to my wife Ann, who has had to contend with my long absences on parliamentary activities. She has been my strength and support for all of this time, and I will remain eternally grateful to her. Our wider family have always been supportive and for this I am thankful."
SNP Westminster leader Mr Flynn said: "I would like to put on record my thanks to Ian Blackford for the massive role he has played in making the SNP the formidable force it is in Scottish and UK politics.”
"Ian has been a stalwart in the SNP for decades and has played a key role in putting forward the case for Scotland's future as an independent country. He was also pivotal in the SNP's incredible general election win in 2019.
"During his time as SNP Westminster leader, Ian stood across the House of Commons from four Tory Prime Ministers and was a fierce opponent for every one of them - taking them on over Brexit, austerity cuts, Westminster attacks on devolution, and their undemocratic attempts to deny Scotland's right to choose our own future.
"I know Ian will be sorely missed by his constituents and colleagues when he stands down as an MP but I am confident that he will have a key role in continuing the campaign for Scotland to become an independent country.".
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