I have served as a leader of a Scottish Party for approximately 16 months, and have been honoured to have been able to serve on the frontline through such radical changes to the politics of Scotland. When I first helped found the PUP and stepped away from Labour, I was offered the incredible chance to head the Scottish branch having had experience as Edinburgh's MSP and Shadow Education Secretary for Scottish Labour. Back then the main two parties (Tories and Labour) dominated, with the Conservatives holding a seemingly unbreakable grip on governance in Scotland. The journey we've been on since then has been an incredible one though.

Scottish politics has clearly shown the need for the Progressives. Our pragmatism in delivering has been noticeable, and our principles are something that many can identify with; we're firmly left of centre and are ambitious for Scotland's culture and future but unwavering on protecting Scotland's place in the United Kingdom. We have shown the ability to lead by being part of the past two governments, and have helped secure huge progress, from better language rights to stable and progressive budgets, improving housing to working on expanding free school meal programmes. It has been a massive honour to lead the SProgs in the last three Scottish Parliament elections, and I am hugely grateful to the people of Edinburgh for continuing to put their trust in me. But now it's time for others to take our party forwards. I have massively enjoyed being a party leader in Scotland and Cabinet member, however upon becoming UK Home Secretary and continuing to lead the national PWP it is only right that I allow for others who can be more invested in devolved affairs and crucially are fresher voices in the party to now create the next chapter for our Scottish party. I trust in our new leadership team - co-leaders LightningMinion (aka "Beans"), Imadearedditaccount5 (aka Avery), and Deputy Leader Muffin to lead the party, and I am honoured to have been offered the new position of Chair of the Scottish Progressives from which I will still be able to offer advice and stability to the party.

I will not be completely stepping away from Scotland, and my commitment to the people of Edinburgh is uncompromising and I have every intention to stand for re-election there and work hard this parliamentary term. But the service the Scottish Progressives provide to politics here is no longer my place to shape, and I look forward to seeing what the future brings.

• Rt. Hon. Model-Eddy MSP MP