Labour MSP Rhoda Grant announces decision to stand down to 'make way for others'

Long-standing Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has announced that she has made the “difficult decision” not to seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.

Grant announced her decision to step down from representing the Highlands and Islands on Thursday.

The MSP was elected to Holyrood in the first Scottish Parliament election in 1999, and has gone on to serve in five of the six parliamentary terms since then.

Grant has served on a number of cross-party groups, including the crofting group and co-convened groups on human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Her members’ bill on domestic abuse was adopted and became an act in April 2011, which made it an offence to engage in an abusive course of conduct against a current or ex-partner.

She is currently Labour’s rural affairs spokesperson and has previously been the party’s spokesperson for women’s equalities and justice and finance.

“Unfortunately, after thinking long and hard about the demands of this role, I do not feel I can continue to give the time and commitment required to do it justice and therefore hand on the baton to others and will not stand at the next Scottish Parliament elections,” she said.

“I have loved representing my region alongside people, too many to mention, who have worked with me, challenged me and supported me.

“I do not think it is possible to entirely switch off from representing the region that I love, and I will continue to push for improvement to our services and opportunities whenever that opportunity arises.”

As she prepares to step back as MSP, Grant said the Scottish Labour Party has already selected a number of candidates in the region.

“It makes it easier for me to step back when I know there is such talent waiting in the wings,” she said.

Grant joins a growing list of approximately 30 other MSPs who have already announced that they won’t seek re-election in 2026.

The list includes some of the biggest names in Scottish politics, including former first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. Several Scottish Government Ministers are planning to step back next year as well.

Some MSPs are leaving due to age, including MSPs James Dornan and Bill Kidd, who are both in their 70s.

Others have said it’s time to step back and prioritise other aspects of their lives.

Regardless of the various reasons, the resignations will pave the way for a new generation of Scottish politicians to rise through the ranks.