Kate Forbes to stand down at election

Kate Forbes is to stand down at the next election, it has been announced.

The deputy first minister said she had made the decision to spend more time with family.

By the time of the election next May, Forbes will have been an MSP for a decade, representing Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch. She has spent most of those years in government.

Announcing her decision, she said: “I have grown up in the public eye, getting married, having a baby and raising a young family. I have consistently put the public's needs ahead of my family's during that time. I am grateful to them for accommodating the heavy demands of being a political figure. 

“Looking ahead to the future, I do not want to miss any more of the precious early years of family life – which can never be rewound.

“I am very grateful to everybody I've worked with – in my constituency office, the party and government. It’s not an easy environment and I will leave public office with the highest respect for the journalists who hold us accountable, MSPs across the chamber and hard-working volunteers in every community.”

Forbes has been deputy first minister and economy secretary since May 2024, after John Swinney became first minister.

She ran for leadership following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation in 2023 but was unsuccessful, coming under fire for some of her religious views, particularly on same-sex marriage.

Prior to that, she was finance secretary – a role she took over from Derek Mackay, who was forced to step down on the eve of the 2020 budget after messages between him and a teenage boy became public.

The first minister thanked her for her service, adding: “I am sorry that you have taken this decision but recognise and understand your reasons for doing so… You have made a huge contribution to public life in Scotland and have been instrumental in making progress on economic issues for my government.”

She had been considered a possible future leader of the SNP and her decision opens up questions about the party’s direction going forward.

Her decision will be seen as good news for the Liberal Democrats, who had already been targeting her Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seat next year.