Mairi Gougeon becomes latest SNP MSP to announce decision to stand down

Mairi Gougeon has become the latest SNP MSP to announce that she will quit Holyrood at next year’s election.

The MSP for Angus North and Mearns is the latest SNP Minister to quit amidst a wave of resignations in recent weeks.

Gougeon has served as the MSP for Angus North and Mearns since 2016 and has been the Scottish cabinet secretary for rural affairs, land reform and islands since 2021.

Through this role, she has been responsible for forestry and woodlands, land reform and land use, the Royal Botanic Gardens, national parks and natural heritage, as well as food and drink.

Scotland

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The ex-SNP leader announced on Wednesday morning that she will stand down run from Scottish Parliament in 2026.

She was also previously the minister for public health and sport, and for rural affairs and the natural environment.

“It has been the honour of my life to be elected to represent and serve the people of my home constituency of Angus North and Mearns as an SNP representative since 2016, and before that, as a councillor for Brechin and Edzell since 2007,” she said on Facebook.

“It has also been a huge privilege to serve as a minister in the Scottish Government – something I never would have imagined in 2016.”

Gougeon said that come 2026, she will have been in an elected position for nearly half of her life.

“The time has come for me to take a step back from frontline politics,” the MSP added.

In the meantime, she has promised to continue to do her “very best” to represent the Angus North and Mearns constituency and “work to deliver the fairer, independent nation that our people deserve”.

Gougeon is one of many senior Scottish politicians retiring from Holyrood next year.

Former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf are both stepping down as well as Scotland’s transport secretary Fiona Hyslop; former deputy first minister and finance secretary Shona Robison; and 19 other MSPs – including politicians from Labour and Conservative parties will also step down ahead of the 2026 elections.