Nobel Peace Prize nominee MSP to stand down from Scottish Parliament

Bill Kidd, the only MSP to be named in a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize, is to step down at the next Scottish Parliament election.

The Glasgow Anniesland MSP was named in a 2016 nomination as part of his work with an international group attempting to abolish nuclear weapons.

First elected as a Glasgow region MSP in 2007 before winning his constituency seat in 2011, the SNP politician is to stand down ahead of the 2026 vote.

The news comes amidst debate about the SNP's stance on nuclear weapons.

Against the backdrop of increased tensions around Russia's war on Ukraine, Ian Blackford, the party's former Westminster leader, has called for the party to ditch its historic policy of unilateral nuclear disarmament in favour of a multilateral approach – a stance First Minister John Swinney has said he disagrees with.

Kidd said there was "no appetite" within the SNP to change the party's position. He told Holyrood: "This is something which has been blown out of proportion. 

"There is no call for the party, in terms of numbers or a motion to the party's conference, saying that we should move away from the position we have."

Kidd, a former chief whip, is the 24th serving MSP to confirm a decision to leave parliament when this term ends.

Like Kidd, most – 17 – are from the SNP and include former first minister Humza Yousaf and current ministers Christina McKelvie, Fiona Hyslop, Shona Robison, Graeme Dey and Richard Lochhead.

A range of reasons have been given from health to family commitments. 

Kidd, who achieved a majority of around 7,000 votes in 2021, said standing again could mean serving as an MSP until the age of 75, adding: "I have reached the time of life where I have done my shift.

"I have got a good majority built up, good membership and good support in the community. 

"I think that next year the SNP will be the government again so I'm confident that whoever succeeds me as SNP candidate will win the seat."

The news follows Kidd's recent trip to the UN as co-president of international group Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND).

When it was put forward for the Nobel Peace Prize, Kidd was named in the nomination thanks to his efforts in bringing a Holyrood vote in favour of banning nuclear weapons from Scotland.

PNND allows retired parliamentarians to retain membership, but Kidd will step down as co-president.

He said: "I'm not going to walk away from that; I'm not going to walk away from campaigning for independence."

After a period of turmoil, Kidd, who has served in four parliaments, said Holyrood's SNP group is now "more disciplined" because "people are willing discuss things" and "work together".