SNP MSP Sandra White to stand down at next election

SNP MSP Sandra White has announced plans to stand down from Holyrood at the election in May.

The Glasgow Kelvin MSP said representing the city she grew up in has been the “honour of my life” and pledged to continue dedicating time to local activism and the fight for Scottish independence.

White, who was among those elected when the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999, said she has “no doubt that we will see independence for Scotland in my lifetime”.

First elected as a Glasgow regional member, she won her current seat in 2007, being re-elected in 2011 and 2015.

Prior to becoming an MSP, she spent a decade as an SNP councillor on Renfrewshire Council.

The 69-year-old revealed her plans to stand down at next year’s Scottish Parliament election in a statement to her constituency association.

White is the latest in a series of SNP MSPs to confirm they will not be standing for re-election and her announcement follows Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirming on Monday plans to quit Holyrood in May.

White said: “I have been involved in frontline politics for the majority of my life, spending over three decades as an elected representative.

I first became involved to fight for social justice and equality for all. I would like to hope that my contribution over these many years has delivered an improvement to people’s lives both locally and further afield.

“It has been both a privilege and the honour of my life to represent the city that I grew up in, helping to shape a better future for the people who have been Glaswegians their whole lives and for those who have chosen to make Glasgow their home.

“Having been elected to all five sessions of our Parliament since its reconvening in 1999, this has given me the opportunity to sit on almost every committee either as an ordinary member, deputy convener or convener.

“Highlights have definitely included my election as the convener of the Social Security Committee, which allowed me to oversee the creation of our own system, shaped to fit the needs of the people of Scotland while ensuring it had dignity and respect at its heart.

“The single greatest piece of work I directly oversaw was without doubt the Responsible Parking Bill, which was adopted by the Government in to their recent Transport Bill. This change in the law will have a direct impact in Glasgow Kelvin and across Scotland, making our streets safer for all.”

While pledging to continue work supporting the people of Palestine and “other international causes where people face oppression and seek social justice – such as in Catalunya”, she said she hoped “people will remember me as a grassroots MSP who prioritised their constituency and constituents above all else”.

She added: “While I may be stepping back from public office I will most certainly be active in Kelvin as we continue on the road to independence and the next referendum. I look forward to helping the next Indy Ref campaign get over the line and I have no doubt that we will see independence for Scotland in my lifetime.”

Other SNP MSPs to confirm they will be stepping down in May include Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham, Constitution Secretary Mike Russell, Gail Ross and Bruce Crawford.