MSP Oliver Mundell to stand down at next election

Oliver Mundell has represented Dumfriesshire in the Scottish Parliament since 2016

Dumfriesshire MSP Oliver Mundell has confirmed he will not be standing at next year's Scottish parliamentary elections.

The 35-year-old has held the constituency for the Conservatives since 2016.

He said it had been a "great privilege" to represent his home area for the best part of a decade.

However, he said he wanted to be "fully upfront" about his plans so his party could complete the selection process to appoint a new candidate.

Mr Mundell - the son of the MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale David Mundell - took the seat for the Conservatives from Labour's Elaine Murray in 2016.

He retained it with an increased majority over the SNP's Joan McAlpine five years later.

He has held a number of shadow ministerial portfolios during his time in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Mundell - who is married with two children - said he wanted to spend more time with his family and seek "fresh challenges" in his working life.