Ex-Labour leader Richard Leonard to step down from Scottish Parliament

Former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard is to step down at the next election.

Leonard, who led the party from 2017-2021, will not seek re-election in 2026.

The former trade unionist has been the MSP for Central Scotland since 2016 and is a prominent figure on the left of the party.

He made the announcement in the Falkirk Herald newspaper, in which he also took a swipe at the Labour government, saying workers at Grangemouth and Waspi women had been "badly let down by those in power".

Leonard said: "While I will be standing down from the Scottish Parliament, I will not be standing down from the causes I believe in and that I have spent my entire adult life fighting for."

He went on: "The common thread here is people. That is who I have always sided with and always will. The people who have been badly let down by those in power: like the workers at Grangemouth and the Waspi women.

"That drive for democracy, for economic and social justice, to end poverty and inequality, and for international peace and disarmament. That is what I will continue to speak up on inside parliament over the next year and campaign for outside parliament for as long as I have a breath in my body."

Leonard is the first Scottish Labour MSP to declare an intention to stand down.

However, he is the 20th MSP in total to make such an announcement ahead of the 2026 vote.

Others include deputy presiding officer Annabelle Ewing and business minister Richard Lochhead, both of the SNP, as well as former first minister Humza Yousaf. 

Beatrice Wishart of the Lib Dems and Tories Liz Smith, Oliver Mundell and Edward Mountain have also confirmed they will not stand at the next time of asking.

Yorkshire-born Leonard is currently convenor of the Public Audit Committee and, as Scottish Labour leader, moved the party to the left, backing Jeremy Corbyn.

He succeeded Kezia Dugdale in the leadership role and resigned amidst internal party pressures. 

Leonard took the Speech of the Year prize at the 2022 Holyrood Garden Party & Political Awards for a speech given as part of his push for a miners' strike pardon.

In a statement, he said: "From the miners' strike 40 years ago to the battle today for jobs at Grangemouth, I have always been on the side of the people and I always will be.

"That drive for democracy, for international peace and disarmament, to end poverty and inequality, that burning flame of socialism.

"That is what I will continue to campaign for, for as long as I have got breath in my body.

"I am proud of the work I have been involved with and it has been an honour to have the opportunity to do it.

"I remain convinced that we can and we will build a better, a more equal, a more democratic, a socialist society."