Former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard standing down at next election

Former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has announced he will not run for re-election in 2026, but said he “will not be standing down from the causes I believe in”.

The Central Scotland MSP is currently convener of Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee and is one of a number of MSPs from across the parties who have recently announced they are stepping down.

A figure from the left wing of the Labour Party, Leonard is a former trade union organiser and served as leader between 2017 and 2021.

During the latter part of his leadership he had faced calls to quit from some other Scottish Labour MSPs who felt the party was performing poorly.

Anas Sarwar went on to win the leadership race to succeed Leonard, finishing ahead of Monica Lennon.

As a committee convener, Leonard has overseen investigations into public spending scandals in Scotland – including the long-running saga of the delayed and over-budget ferries at Ferguson Marine.

He announced his decision to step down in the Falkirk Herald, saying he will always stand with people who have been let down by those in power, such as “workers at Grangemouth and the Waspi women”.

He added in a statement later: “While I will be standing down from the Scottish Parliament, I will not be standing down from the causes I believe in and that I have spent my entire adult life fighting for.

“From the miners’ strike 40 years ago to the battle today for jobs at Grangemouth, I have always been on the side of the people and I always will be.

“That drive for democracy, for international peace and disarmament, to end poverty and inequality, that burning flame of socialism.

“That is what I will continue to campaign for, for as long as I have got breath in my body.”

He added: “I remain convinced that we can and we will build a better, a more equal, a more democratic, a socialist society.”

Other MSPs standing down in 2026 include the SNP’s Humza Yousaf, Annabelle Ewing and Gordon MacDonald.

Last week Tory MSPs Edward Mountain and Liz Smith said they will not seek re-election.

From the Liberal Democrats, Beatrice Wishart will be stepping down from her Shetland constituency.