Former First Minister to step down as MSP

Former First Minister Jack McConnell has announced that he will not be putting himself forward for re-election as an MSP.

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, a former maths teacher, issued a statement in which he said: "I have been an elected representative for most of the last 30 years and it is time to move on.

"I will be forever grateful to the many people locally and nationally who have helped me in the causes I have promoted."

As a young councillor and political activist during the 1980s Lord McConnell argued strongly for devolution, and in the 90s he worked to make the Scottish Parliament a reality.

Tributes to Lord McConnell were led by Harriet Harman, Labour’s acting leader. She said: "The success of devolution is in no small part due to Jack’s determination and commitment...to make devolution work for Scotland."

Lord McConnell became an MSP in the first elections to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, later holding the positions of Finance Minister and Education Minister.

He became First Minister following the resignation of his predecessor Henry McLeish, and led the Scottish Labour Party to its second election victory in the 2003 election.

Lord McConnell is Scotland’s longest serving First Minister to date, beginning his tenure in 2001, but losing the post when Alex Salmond’s Scottish National Party took power in 2007.

He claims Scotland flourished under his leadership, highlighting economic growth, the smoking ban, the largest ever school building programme and his high profile campaign to tackle sectarianism.

The Motherwell and Wishaw MSP was recently made a life peer, taking up a seat in the House of Lords.

He said he would continue to campaign for vulnerable young people and speak up for devolution and diversity in the House of Lords.

Lord McConnell’s new challenges include developing an international peace building role handed to him by Gordon Brown and improving links between Scotland and the impoverished African nation of Malawi.

He concluded his statement: "Throughout my career – from the classrooms of Lornshill Academy to Bute House, I have always tried to do the right thing."