SNP veteran Fergus Ewing has announced he will stand as an independent candidate at next year's Scottish Parliament elections.
Ewing has represented Inverness and Nairn for the SNP since 1999, and previously served as rural affairs secretary in government.
Back in March, Ewing announced he did not intend to stand for the SNP at next year's Holyrood elections, having been frustrated at the party's slow progress with the A9 and A96 dualling among other things.
He claims the SNP has "lost its way".
Now, the veteran has confirmed he plans to stand for election as an independent, the BBC reports.
Ewing previously said: "Holyrood is more fractious and tribal than ever before.
"Too much power rests unchecked in the hands of party leaders, free to choose candidates who will slavishly support them, rather than stand up for the people who sent them to Holyrood. Choosing the pliant over the talented."