John Swinney has announced he will stand down as a Scottish Government minister after almost 16 years.
The Deputy First Minister is an SNP veteran and led the party from 2000-2004 before serving in a variety of Cabinet positions following the Nationalists' breakthrough election victory in 2007.
The MSP had previously announced he would not enter the race to become the next SNP leader after Sturgeon confirmed last month she was standing down.