Prominent Scottish National Party (SNP) parliamentarian Ian Blackford has announced he would stand down as MP for Ross, Skye, and Lochaber in the next British general election. He previously stepped down as the leader of the SNP in the House of Commons last December, with Stephen Flynn named as his successor.
Blackford was also a close ally of former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who herself stepped down as SNP leader in early 2023.
The former SNP leader said he thought "long and hard" whether to contest his seat or not in the next general election in 2024, saying he was "privileged and humbled" that people across his home constituency have put their trust in him for three terms. Blackford has represented the Westminster seat since 2015.
"Having stood down as SNP Westminster leader, I have gone through a period of reflection as to how I can best assist the party and the cause of independence - a cause I have campaigned for since joining the SNP as a teenager in the 1970s," he said. "I look forward to playing my part in the continuing campaign for Scottish independence and supporting our first minister and the SNP as we go forward to the next election and beyond."
In his remaining time as a Westminster MP, Blackford has been developing a paper on Scotland's industrial future, hoping it would lead to a sustainable enhancement in economic growth, driving investment and better-paid jobs in Scotland, and raising living standards.
Meanwhile, Flynn gave tribute to Blackford for playing a "massive role" in making the party a formidable force in Scottish and UK politics. "I know Ian will be sorely missed by his constituents and colleagues when he stands down as an MP but I am confident that he will have a key role in continuing the campaign for Scotland to become an independent country," he said.