EAST Lothian will have a new provost next May – whatever the outcome of next year’s local elections.

For East Lothian Provost Ludovic Broun-Lindsay has announced he will not stand at the local government elections.

It brings to an end a 30-year involvement with local government for the councillor, after Mr Broun-Lindsay was elected to the previous Garleton ward in October 1987.

Now representing Haddington, he served as group leader of the Scottish Conservatives in opposition, before his election as provost in 2012.

The announcement comes as his tenure as provost comes to an end, and will allow him to spend more time on his family business – the event hosting and cooking school business that he runs from his Colstoun home.

Mr Broun-Lindsay said: “It has been a huge honour to represent Haddington for the last 30 years.

“My family has a long history in the area, and it was great to be able to continue that by representing somewhere that I feel so connected to.

“I’ve particularly enjoyed my role as Provost for East Lothian for the past five years, and acting as an ambassador for the county.

“We are blessed to live in such a unique and beautiful area of Scotland, and I trust that it will continue to go from strength to strength in the coming years.

“I want to thank all of those who have helped me over the years on the council and in the local Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association, and am now looking to get the chance to step back and concentrate on my family business.”

The East Lothian Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association will look to announce their candidate for Haddington in the coming days.

The Conservatives’ Michael Veitch, East Lothian Council’s depute leader, has already announced he won’t be standing for re-election in the Dunbar and East Lonton ward, as he is relocating and moving to Northumberland, joining the clergy.