A former SNP minister has announced she will stand down at the Holyrood election in 2026.
Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, served as drugs and alcohol minister between March 2023 and February 2024.
Prior to that, she was community safety minister in the Scottish Government.
But Ms Whitham resigned from government earlier this year after revealing treatment for post-traumatic stress.
She said the condition had “greatly” impacted her wellbeing at the time.
Announcing the decision on X, Ms Whitham, who was elected in 2021, said she made the decision not to run “after much soul searching and discussion with loved ones”.
She wrote: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve the people of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley as MSP for the past three and a half years.
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“It was also an immense honour to work on my passion for social justice across two ministerial roles. I will be forever proud of what I have achieved with the help and support of my constituents.
“After much soul searching and discussion with my loved ones, I have decided that I will not be seeking re-election for the next Holyrood election.
“This was a difficult decision to make but one I know is right for me and my family.”
Ms Whitham said she will continue in the role over the next 18 months, but she added: “Whoever succeeds me as a candidate will have my full support as we continue with our mission.”
She has become the fifth SNP MSP to confirm she will not seek re-election, joining Christine Grahame, Ruth Maguire and James Dornan.
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Earlier this month, SNP MSP Ruth Maguire announced her intention to step down as she receives treatment for cancer.
John Mason, who was expelled from the SNP and now sits as an independent, will also give up his seat in 2026.
The Cunninghame South MSP said that despite having successful treatment for cervical cancer in 2021, it had returned.
Both Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have submitted the necessary papers to the party's ruling NEC to allow them to be candidates.
Though there is widespread speculation that they are keeping their options open and could still choose to quit before the vote.
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