STEWART Hosie is to stand down as an MP at the next election, it has been revealed.
The veteran politician has represented Dundee East for almost 20 years and has been a member of the SNP for nearly four decades.
Hosie said after a “great deal of thought” he has decided to quit as an MP when the country next heads to the ballot box - expected to be some time in late 2024.
Announcing his plans to stand down, Hosie said: "It is anticipated that the next UK General Election will be held towards the end of 2024.
"By then I will have an active member of the SNP for more than 40 years and will have served as the Member of Parliament for Dundee East for almost 20 years.
"So after a great deal of thought, I have decided to step down at the next election.
The next election is likely to be in late 2024. By then I will have been an MP for almost 20 years. I intend to step down at that election and wish to take the opportunity today to say thank you to all those who have supported me and @theSNP over the past two decades. pic.twitter.com/YwiwsGOD34
— Stewart Hosie MP (@StewartHosieSNP) June 28, 2023
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to represent the constituency I was born and grew up in.
“I will, of course, remain an active member of the SNP and find other ways in which I can help further the cause of Scottish independence.
“I will also give my full backing to whoever is selected to replace me.”
Hosie was first elected to the House of Commons as an SNP MP in 2005.
At Westminster, Hosie is the SNP's current Treasury spokesperson and served as depute leader under Nicola Sturgeon between November 2014 and October 2016.
Hosie paid tribute to his staff and SNP colleagues, adding that none of his political achievements would have been possible without the “amazing support of colleagues, staff and SNP members throughout Scotland and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart”.
Until he leaves Westminster for good, Hosie will "remain at the service of my constituents", he added.
The senior SNP MP becomes the fifth politician in the party to announce that they will not be staying on to fight the next General Election.
Previously, former SNP Westminster group leader Ian Blackford announced he would be standing down from his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat.
This was followed by long-standing Peter Grant, 62, the MP for Glenrothes and Westminster group's Treasurer, who said he was unsure whether he would be able to cope with the "physical and mental demands of the job" due to his age.
Elsewhere, Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman also said he would not be standing again but insisted it was "far from" his retirement.
Angela Crawley, who has been MP for Lanark and Hamilton East since 2015 when the party gained it from Labour, said it had been a "privilege" to represent her constituents as she announced she would be standing down.
It comes as the Boundaries Commission for Scotland announced the final proposals for a shake-up of seats ahead of the next General Election.
Scotland is set to lose two seats, dropping from 59 to 57 overall. Wales is set to lose eight and England will gain 10 when the changes are formally signed off by the UK Government.
