The veteran politician Andrew Welsh is to stand down as MSP for Angus at the Holyrood elections next May, with First Minister Alex Salmond calling him “a champion for his beloved Angus.”
Mr Welsh (66) announced his retirement to members of the Angus South SNP constituency at a meeting this week.
Boundary changes which come into effect at the next Scottish Parliament elections will see his Angus seat split into two new seats North Angus and the Mearns and Angus South.
He has also been MP for South Angus (1974-1979), Angus East (1987-1997) and Angus (1997-2001).
His decision to step down will bring an end to a 36-year political career at Westminster and Holyrood.
A former provost of Angus, Mr Welsh was first elected to Westminster in October 1974 as one of the SNP group of 11 MPs.
In 1999 he was elected to the first Scottish Parliament.
He was a member of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body during the first years of the parliament, and was involved in key decisions during construction of the new parliament building at Holyrood.
A key member of Holyrood’s much admired committee system, he convened the powerful audit committee and is convener of the influential finance committee.
Mr Welsh said, “Whether building the essential A92 dual carriageway, saving GlaxoSmithKline from closure, the massive investment in both the Scottish Crop Research Institute and the recent £3.2m investment in Montrose harbour, the economic wellbeing and success of Angus have always been at the forefront of my work as the elected representative of Angus… “I thank the people of Angus and the SNP workers who have allowed me to represent them and build a strong foundation for the future of our communities.”
Last night Mr Salmond said, “Andrew Welsh has been a champion for his beloved Angus and for Scotland for almost 40 years, and most recently a highly effective convener of the Scottish Parliament’s finance committee.
“Andrew’s career as an SNP parliamentarian spans the period of the party’s greatest success, and he has always played a vital role in linking our national ambitions for Scotland with diligent, effective and selfless local representation.”