The snap General Election has claimed its most high-profile scalp so far after former chancellor George Osborne said he would not stand.

However, the Conservative, who famously declared in 2014 that the UK would not enter a currency union with an independent Scotland, left the door open saying he was only quitting Westminster "for now".

But another former minister Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson is hoping the vote could pave her way back to parliament, after she confirmed a bid to retake her old seat.

There was a reprieve too for another former chancellor Ken Clarke, who has represented Rushcliffe since 1970.

He had previously suggested he would step down at the next election when it was expected in 2020.

Ms Swinson lost her seat to the SNP in 2015, but said that most people in her former East Dunbartonshire constituency had voted to stay in the UK in 2014, as well as in the EU last year.

The seat is the SNP's second most marginal, with a majority of just 2,167.

Ms Swinson said: “I’m standing in the General Election because I’m passionate about keeping Scotland in the UK, and averting the disaster of the Tories’ hard Brexit.

"Most people in East Dunbartonshire agree – 61 per cent voted to stay in the UK and 71 per cent voted to Remain in the EU."

She added: "The result last time makes it absolutely clear: this is a fight between the SNP and the Liberal Democrats, and one I fully intend to win.”

Since 2015 the seat has been held by SNP MP John Nicolson.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, who unexpectedly won the Edinburgh Central seat at Holyrood last year, has ruled out standing.

However, she said she expected three of four of her MSPs to do so.

John Lamont is expected to stand in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk against the SNP’s Calum Kerr, while Miles Briggs is considering a run in Edinburgh South West against the SNP’s Joanna Cherry QC.

Labour is expected to turn first to the losers of the 2016 and 2015 elections in its search for candidates.

A senior source said no Labour MSPs were expected to stand in June.

However former Labour MSP Bill Butler is understood to be putting himself forward.

Frank McAveety, Labour leader of Glasgow City Council and a former minister in the Scottish Executive, ruled himself out after speculation he might stand in Glasgow East.

He told the Herald: “I won’t be standing, definitely not.

“It’s always nice to be considered but definitely not.

“I’m focused utterly on trying to hold the council.”

Meanwhile Toni Giugliano, the SNP candidate who lost the Edinburgh Western seat to the Lib Dems at Holyrood last year, is considering a run at Edinburgh West, where the MP is Michelle Thomson, who was suspended by the SNP over a police and Crown Office probe.

Malcolm Fleming, a former special adviser to both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister, is expected to apply for the SNP candidacy in David Mundell’s Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale seat.

Currently public affairs manager at the People’s Postcode Lottery, he was born and raised in the constituency.

And in Glasgow East, where the MP Natalie McGarry no longer has the SNP whip, former SNP national secretary Duncan Ross, parliamentary aide David Linden and outgoing North Lanarkshire c

councillor Rosa Zambonini are to bid for the party nomination.