Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon to quit politics next year

Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said: “Scotland’s salmon sector wishes Mairi Gougeon all our best wishes for her future career. She has been a friend to people across the sector and has always made the positive case for salmon to Scotland.

 

“We have valued her commitment and professionalism and look forward to continuing to work with her during the remaining months in this parliamentary session.”

 

Mairi Gougeon, MSP for Angus North and Mearns, was elected in 2016 and has served as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs since 2021 in the SNP government. The post includes responsibility for fisheries and aquaculture policies.

 

She joins fellow SNP members Nicola Sturgeon and Natalie Don-Innes in not seeking re-election ahead of the 2026 vote. Previously, Gougeon was a councillor in Angus.

 

Speaking to the Courier, the local newspaper for Dundee and Fife, she said: “It has been the honour of my life to be elected to represent and serve the people of my home constituency of Angus North and Mearns as an SNP representative since 2016, and before that, as a councillor for Brechin and Edzell since 2007.

 

“My constituency truly is the very best of Scotland and I have worked every day to ensure its voice is heard.

 

“Come 2026, I will have been in an elected position for just about half of my life and the time has come for me to take a step back from frontline politics and pursue new opportunities.”