SNP minister Aileen Campbell quits for higher ‘work-life steadiness’

Scottish authorities minister Aileen Campbell is to step down on the subsequent Holyrood election to spend extra time along with her household.

Ms Campbell, who has two sons aged 5 and 9, mentioned she hoped to attain “a greater work-life steadiness”.

The communities secretary mentioned her job had been “demanding when it comes to stress and time”.

Her announcement got here after fellow SNP MSP Gail Ross revealed she was quitting to observe her son develop up.

Ms Campbell has been an MSP since 2007 and was beforehand minister for youngsters and younger folks and minister for public well being and sport.

She was the primary member of the federal government to take maternity go away.

‘Immensely rewarding’

The Clydesdale MSP mentioned in a press release: “My husband and I are very lucky – we’ve managed to seek out methods for me to do my job and have a household on the similar time.

“However there isn’t a getting away from the truth that the job – whereas immensely rewarding – is demanding when it comes to stress and time.

“I hope in future I can spend slightly extra time with my boys at house.

“So, after a lot consideration, now seems like a superb time to organize myself for taking a step again from frontline social gathering politics and authorities.”

She added that she would “work tirelessly for my constituents” till subsequent 12 months’s election, and that she would proceed working within the cupboard “for so long as the primary minister needs me to”.

Ms Campbell is the latest in a series of senior SNP figures to announce they will not seek re-election to Holyrood.

Earlier this month, 66-year-old Michael Russell, who represents Argyll and Bute, mentioned it could be time for somebody youthful to symbolize the constituency.

It was additionally introduced that Stewart Stevenson, who represents Banffshire and Buchan Coast for the SNP, will go away parliament on the election.

He’s 74 and has been an SNP activist since 1961.