DUNFERMLINE MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville will not be running for SNP leadership, it has been confirmed.

The city's Holyrood representative currently holds the position of Education Secretary.

Other cabinet members have put their names forward for the role since the resignation of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last week.

Currently, they are Humza Yousaf, secretary for health and social care, and Kate Forbes, secretary for finance and the economy.

Also up for the job is Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, who resigned as community safety minister over the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.

Ms Somerville joins John Swinney, deputy First Minister; Angus Robertson, constitution, external affairs and culture secretary; Mairi McAllan, environment minister; Neil Gray, minister for culture; and Keith Brown, depute leader of the SNP, in the list of senior figures who have ruled themselves out of contention.

A spokesperson from Ms Somerville's constituency office said: "I can confirm that Shirley-Anne will not be entering the contest to become the new leader of the SNP but she looks forward to working with the next First Minister to help deliver a stronger, fairer, greener Scotland."