Transport minister Kevin Stewart quits due to poor mental health

Scotland's transport minister has quit the government after saying he is suffering from poor mental health.

In his resignation letter to the first minister, Kevin Stewart said he has had bouts of low mental health since last October.

Mr Stewart said he had been feeling unwell for the past week, and could not put in the hours required to both serve his constituents and hold ministerial office.

He will continue to sit as an SNP MSP.

And he pledged to continue to support First Minister Humza Yousaf and the government from the backbenches.

The Aberdeen Central MSP wrote: "Since last October I have had bouts of poor mental health, with a low ebb in early December of last year.

"Over the last week or so I have one again been feeling unwell and I feel that I can no longer put in the hours required to serve both my constituents and hold ministerial office, while also trying to maintain good mental health."

He added: "It has been the honour of my life to serve the people of Scotland in three ministerial positions under the leadership of Nicola Sturgeon and yourself and I do hope that I have made a positive difference for our people and our country".

Mr Stewart was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011, having previously served as deputy leader of Aberdeen City Council.

He was appointed as the government's local government minister by Ms Sturgeon in 2016, and as the minister for mental wellbeing and social care five years later.

He was then given the transport brief by Mr Yousaf when the new first minister unveiled his ministerial team in March of this year.