Scotland’s Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has announced she will not seek re-election at next year’s Holyrood election.

Ms Freeman, who is MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, said she would be 72 by the end of the next parliamentary term and it was the “right time” to stand aside.

She was appointed Health Secretary in 2018 and prior to that was the Minister for Social Security for two years.

Speaking about her decision she said: "I will be 67 later this year and 72 by the end of the next Parliamentary term and while I have a great deal of energy left and more I want to do, I think it is the right time for me to stand aside and let another take forward the work as an MSP for this constituency.”

During her time as Health Secretary Ms Freeman has had to deal with crises including the covid-19 pandemic and the scandal over safety issues at two major hospitals in Scotland.

"In the months ahead I will continue my focus on the work we need to do as a country to meet the challenges facing us all in dealing with covid-19, supporting our NHS and social care workers, and in remobilising our NHS and social care services to the greatest extent possible,” she added.

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