VETERAN SNP politician Fiona Hyslop has announced she plans to retire and will not seek re-election in 2026, as she said the “time is right” to step down.
Hyslop, MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency and Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said it has been an “enormous honour” to serve her constituency since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999, but announced she will step down next year on Wednesday.
She added that the “time is right” for her to step down as a politician and plans to spend more time with her family, in particular her new granddaughter who is seven months old.
After campaigning for the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament, Hyslop was elected as an MSP for the Lothians region and has been the constituency MSP for Linlithgow since 2011.
Hyslop said the reason why she is retiring is “entirely personal” and that she is doing so for “positive reasons”.
She said: “It has been an enormous honour to serve as an SNP MSP since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999 and to serve my home Constituency in West Lothian.
“However, after much careful thought and consideration, I have decided that the time is right for me to retire, which means that I will not be seeking re-election in the forthcoming 2026 election to the Scottish Parliament.
“The decision to retire is entirely personal and I do it for positive reasons. I recently became a grandmother and having served 26 years as an MSP - 27 years at the next election - with 16 of those in Government at Cabinet level, I have decided that this is the right election for me to retire and it is a decision which will give me the valuable opportunity to spend more time with my family and loved ones.
“I came into politics to change things for the better. It has meant a great deal to me to have had the opportunity to serve in Government, initially in 2007, and was the Cabinet Secretary who abolished Labour’s back-end university tuition fees for Scottish students, piloted free school meals for P1 to P3s, started the extension of early learning and childcare and represented Scotland in the world for over a decade establishing Scotland’s international network in Dublin, Paris, Ottawa, and Berlin. I championed our culture sector and showcased our world-class culture sector to the world.”
Hyslop added that after stepping away from Government in 2021, she “enjoyed” two years supporting her SNP colleagues from the backbenches and as Deputy Convener of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.
She returned in 2023 to serve, as she put it, “one of the most challenging roles” in Government as Minister then Cabinet Secretary for Transport.
Hyslop added: “In that role I have driven forward delivery in progressing the A9 dualling programme, the opening of the Levenmouth Rail Link, bringing the Caledonian Sleeper into public hands, secured major investment in the rail network for the next 5 years , further electrification of our rail lines, started the procurement of rail fleet and 7 new small vessel ferry replacements and seen the start of the delivery of 6 new major vessels as well as the preparation of new direct award of ferry services.
“The continued delivery of the free bus travel for under-22 year olds across the country and the provision of 6000 public charging points 2 years early has assisted our drive to reduce emissions on the climate change agenda.
She continued: “I will of course continue as an MSP for more than another year and during that time, I hope to say a personal thank you to the many people who have been part of my life over the years in both my Constituency of Linlithgow, and at Holyrood.
“And finally, I have been an activist for the SNP and Independence most of my life, and I will continue to be an activist. There is still a great deal of work to be done to elect an SNP Government in 2026, and I remain passionate about securing a better future for Scotland as an Independent nation.”
Reacting to the news of Hyslop stepping down, First Minister John Swinney said: “Over so many years Fiona has been a much valued colleague, ally and friend. She has made a massive contribution to the SNP, the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament.
“I will miss her counsel but wish her well for the future.”
