A LEADING SNP MSP has had a change of heart over standing down from Holyrood at of next year’s election.
James Dornan, who represents Glasgow Cathcart, announced in March he would be retiring from the Scottish Parliament, but has now decided to make a fresh bid to fight the seat in 2021.
The 67-year-old has told party members in his constituency, as well as officials at party headquarters, of his intention to stand again, citing a desire to finish a high volume of work he had received during the coronavirus lockdown.
“In March, I emailed you to say I intended to retire as your MSP at the forthcoming election. Since then things have changed for us all thanks to Covid-19 and the accompanying lockdown,” he said.
“This has brought with it an overwhelming amount of work, much of it new and unusual, for my staff and I to deal with and leaves what I consider to be some unfinished business with constituents, businesses and organisations I have worked closely with over the last nine years.
“A lot of experience is due to leave the Parliament next May and I have decided that, your support forthcoming of course, I want to be given the chance to continue to use the experience I have gained in 14 years of elected politics and, once again, represent the constituency for the next Parliamentary session.
“To that end, I contacted SNP HQ last night to inform them that I wish to be considered for reselection in the Glasgow Cathcart Parliamentary seat.”
Dornan was first elected in 2011. During his time in office he has been a senior whip and convener of the Education Committee and the Local Government and Communities Committee.
He spearheaded a campaign to address sectarianism in Scotland, frequently resulting in threats being made to him. In January he wrote an article for the Sunday National to say he was giving up his fight as he felt fellow politicians were “too scared” to get involved.
Dornan dropped a bid to become SNP deputy leader in 2018 to focus on fighting sectarianism and last year launched proposals for a crackdown on disorder at football matches.
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