Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to stand down as MSP

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will stand down at next years Holyrood election.

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP, whose daughter turned three this month, said in a statement she did not want to "seek re-election and miss any more of the precious early years of family life".

She will continue as an MSP for another nine months, with the Holyrood election scheduled for May 2026.

First Minister John Swinney said Forbes had made an "invaluable contribution to public life" over the past 10 years.

First elected in 2016, Forbes enjoyed a rapid rise to become Scotlands first female finance secretary in 2020.

She was narrowly defeated in the 2023 SNP leadership contest by Humza Yousaf, returning to government as Swinneys deputy last year.

Forbes told BBC Scotland News: "Over the last few years I have balanced the role of representing a large area in the Highlands with a government job as deputy first minister and having a small family.

"As I look ahead to the next election I have concluded that I dont want to miss any more of these precious early years of family life."

The deputy first minister said it could take up to five hours to travel from her home in the Highland to the parliament in Edinburgh, and raised concerns about the levels of child care support offered to MSPs.

"I want to focus on supporting my family and I feel like its not possible to do that with the distance involved and the total commitment required of this job," she said.

"Ive loved serving Scotland, Ive loved serving the SNP and my constituents over that decade and I look forward to continuing to campaign for the SNP at the upcoming election."

Forbes added that she remained "wholly supportive" of Swinney

Responding on social media, the first minister paid tribute to Forbes.

He posted: "The challenges of frontline politics are considerable, and I understand the decision she has made although I wish it was not the case.

"I am pleased that Kate will continue to serve in my government and to make a significant contribution to the work of the Scottish National Party.

"I wish her and her family well and for every happiness for the future."

Forbes narrowly lost out to Yousaf in the 2023 SNP leadership contest, having been criticised for her views on gay marriage, abortion and trans rights during the campaign.

She returned to the backbenches but did not stay there for long.

After considering another leadership bid in 2024, she agreed to back Swinney and was rewarded with a role as his deputy.

Her brief also includes responsibilities for the economy and Gaelic.

"I just want to do a good job raising my family".

Thats how Kate Forbes summed up her decision to leave frontline politics in exchanges with me this morning.

At the moment she has a four-hour drive from home to Holyrood at the start of each week and the same again going back.

The deputy first minister does not believe that lifestyle is compatible with bringing up her daughter who has just turned three.

Holyrood was set up to be a "family friendly" parliament but its hours of business and childcare arrangements do not make it so, except perhaps for those MSPs living in and around Edinburgh.

Whether you agree with her or not, Kate Forbes is one of the brightest talents in the Scottish Parliament and her departure will leave our politics much poorer.

Forbes is among more than 20 SNP MSPs to have announced they will not seek re-election next year.

Scottish Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher said: "Despite our political differences, I completely understand and appreciate Kate Forbes reasons for standing down. I wish her and her family well for the future."

She added that the departure of the deputy first minister would come as a "hammer blow" to Swinney.

"He made the choice to bring her back into the heart of the government last year and would have wanted her to play a key role in the campaign," Gallacher said.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "I wish Kate all the very best in her future endeavours and hope that she can enjoy spending time with her family."

She added: "Kate Forbes was the future once - but now, like many of her counterparts in the SNP, she can see the writing on the wall. The truth is this is a tired government with no vision and no ideas."

Angus MacDonald, LibDem MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, thanked Forbes for her work but claimed the SNPs relationship with the Highlands had been "broken".