Angus Robertson announces intention to stand in 2021 Scottish election

The former SNP leader at Westminster said that he plans to contest the seat currently held by Ruth Davidson

Angus Robertson has announced he plans to contest the seat currently held by Ruth Davidson in the next Scottish Parliament election.

The former SNP leader at Westminster said that he will seek his party’s nomination to become MSP for the Edinburgh Central constituency in 2021, aiming to overturn the narrow Conservative majority of 610.

Davidson has previously said she will not stand for Holyrood after the end of this parliamentary term and the Conservatives have not yet selected a candidate to replace her.

Writing in his Edinburgh Evening News column, Robertson criticised Davidson over rumours that she might take up a peerage.

He said: “Edinburgh Central deserves a full-time MSP who will put the interests of their constituents first.

“At present, the heart of Scotland’s capital city is represented by somebody who would prefer to be in the House of Lords and pursuing a career in public relations.”

He added: “Edinburgh Central needs an MSP that has a full-time commitment to their constituents and constituency, and the SNP needs a full-time candidate to win this important seat. I believe I am best placed to be that candidate.

“I will not pretend to ­constituents that I can be in two places at the same time.”

Robertson grew up in central Edinburgh and was formerly an MP for Moray but lost his seat to the Conservatives in the 2017 general election.

He currently heads up the pro-independence polling firm Progress Scotland.

Nominations for the constituency are not expected to open until April, with a ballot of SNP members in the area in the summer.

Robertson argued that the SNP must succeed in the Scottish elections in order to “secure independence”.

He said: “I hope to play my part in making that happen.”