Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has confirmed she will not seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament next year, citing a desire to spend more time with her young family.
The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said the decision followed “deep reflection” during the parliamentary recess and a wish not to “miss any more of the precious early years of family life”.
Forbes, first elected in her mid-twenties in 2016, has been one of the SNP’s most prominent figures, serving as finance secretary and presenting multiple Scottish Budgets. She played a key role in supporting businesses and workers during the Covid-19 pandemic and launched Scotland’s national tech start-up network, TechScaler.
Her political profile rose further in 2023 when she finished runner-up in the SNP leadership contest to Humza Yousaf. She was appointed Deputy First Minister and economy secretary by John Swinney last year.
In a statement, Forbes said: “I have consistently put the public’s needs ahead of my family’s during my time in politics. Looking ahead, I do not want to miss any more of these early years. It has been the privilege of my life to serve, but it is time to focus on new opportunities to serve people in different ways.”
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First Minister John Swinney said he respected her decision and praised her “huge contribution to public life in Scotland” and her work on economic policy.
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie wished Forbes well but claimed her departure reflected the SNP’s decline, saying voters had seen “former rising stars abandoning the stage”.
Forbes will continue in her ministerial role until the May 2026 election.
