RICHARD Leonard, former leader of Scottish Labour, is stepping down as an MSP at the next Holyrood election.
The news comes from an article he wrote for the Falkirk Herald which reads: “Today I am announcing that I will not be seeking re-election as an MSP in 2026.
“But while I will be standing down from the Scottish Parliament, I will not be standing down from the causes that I believe in and that I have spent my entire adult life fighting for.”
Leonard has served at the MSP for Central Scotland since 2016, before assuming the position of party leader in 2017, beating out current head Anas Sarwar.
Reflecting on the causes which matter to him, Leonard went on: “Locally that takes me back to the miners’ strike of 40 years ago and to the demand for a public inquiry into the Rechem waste incinerator which I campaigned for alongside the late Euro-MP Alex Falconer.”
“It takes me back to fighting against factory closures and for new investment, with former Scottish Trade Union Congress General Secretary and Falkirk resident, Campbell Christie.”
He finished his statement by saying: “And right up to date, in the battle to avert the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery and the Haven factory in Larbert, and to secure justice for long Covid sufferers.”
A supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, Leonard faced a motion of no confidence in his leadership put forward by members of the political right of the party but the motion failed to get enough traction. He remained as leader until standing down in January 2021 prior to that year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
He said deciding to step aside prior to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election was "not an easy decision" but the "right one for me and for the party".
