Maurice Golden has become the latest Conservative MSP to weaken leader Russell Findlay’s representation at Holyrood after announcing he is leaving frontline politics.

Mr Golden is to stand down next year after a decade in the Scottish parliament. His decision follows the defection of Jamie Greene to the Liberal Democrats.

Former Tory leader Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Edward Mountain and Oliver Mundell, have already said they will not seek re-election.

The latest departures follow some rumbling of discontent with the party, with Mr Greene, describing the Tories as “the nasty party”.

Mr Golden, the North East regional list MSP, has said the party has his full support though he has been a past critic, claiming at the time Liz Truss was Prime Minister that she was pursuing an extreme budget.

He has also become uncomfortable about the party’s softening position on climate change. He was sidelined by Mr Ross.

He was first elected in 2016 and was a member of Ruth Davidson’s shadow cabinet as spokesperson for environment, climate change and land reform. He later became the party’s chief whip.

Her successor Jackson Carlaw moved him to economy in February 2020, a role he retained until shortly after the 2021 election when Mr Ross reshuffled his frontbench team.

Officially, he said now is a “natural point to pursue new challenges” after a decade in parliament.