TWO long-standing members of the SNP government will stand down at next year’s Holyrood elections.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison and her colleague, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop, were both elected as list MSPs when parliament was re-convened in 1999, before going on to represent the Dundee East and Linlithgow constituencies respectively.

Both have played prominent roles in successive SNP cabinets since the party won power in 2007, Ms Robison finally being appointed deputy first minister and finance secretary by Humza Yousaf.  

Announcing her departure, Ms Robison said that she was “deeply proud of my ministerial contributions and achievements,” but added: “The best moments over my time at Holyrood have come from representing and supporting my constituents.

“I will forever be grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to serve them over the many years I have represented the city.”

Ms Hylsop vowed to “continue as an activist,” but as a new grandmother added:  “I have decided that this is the right election for me to retire and it is a decision which will give me the valuable opportunity to spend more time with my family and loved ones.”