HOSTILITY has “absolutely and totally undermined” female politicians, and fuelled an exodus from Holyrood at next year’s Scottish parliamentary elections, First Minister John Swinney has warned.

Mr Swinney made the remarks after a string of announcements from some of his party’s most prominent women that they intended to stand down next May, including former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, Finance Secretary Shona Robison, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop and Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon.