Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Gaelic, has stunned Scottish politics by announcing she will not seek re-election in the 2026 Parliament elections.

Her announcement will send shockwaves across the political spectrum and leave a huge hole to fill in the SNP’s senior ranks as it prepares for next year’s poll.

Ms Forbes was first elected in 2016 and became Scotland’s first female Finance Secretary in 2020. She lost the vote to become party leader to Humza Yousaf in 2023 and was brought back into a senior position by his successor John Swinney.

It has been widely expected that Ms Forbes would at some point take over the party leadership. She says she wants to spend more time with her young daughter and family, while finding new ways to serve people.

In comments to the media after her announcement she denied any suggestion of splits with John Swinney, explaining that making numerous five hour drives from her home in the Highlands to Holyrood was taking its toll on her and her family.

“It’s one thing to try to balance your family and job,” she said. “It’s quite another to have to travel such vast distances.

“I like doing jobs well and if I feel I can’t do every element well it begs the question as to what is going to have to go. I don’t want to feel that degree of conflict for the next five years.”

Amid speculation that her departure will tilt the party more to the left, one insider said Ms Forbes had been “a voice for competent government and a strong economy”.

She joins a number of other bigger hitters in the SNP not seeking re-election next year, including Nicola Sturgeon, Shona Robison, Humza Yousaf, Fiona Hyslop and Richard Lochhead (see full list below).

Ms Forbes made her first big impression when she stood in for Derek Mackay who was forced to resign over revelations in his private life the night before he was due to deliver the 2020 budget. Since then she has been instrumental in steering the party’s business and economy agenda, hiring Mark Logan to produce a digital strategy.

In a statement, she said: “I have informed my Constituency Association today that I do not intend to seek re-election in May 2026.

“It has been a great honour to serve Highland communities for almost a decade. I am grateful to every voter who re-elected me at the last election with the biggest majority in Scotland.

“I have also been privileged to serve in Government, first as Minister for Public Finance, then as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and most recently as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.

“As I reflected over recess, I have concluded that I do not wish to seek re-election for another five year term in the Scottish Parliament.

“All politicians face a choice at every election to stay on the same path or not. Quite simply, I’ve decided on the latter. I remain wholly supportive of the First Minister just as when I backed him to be leader of the SNP and I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election – to lead Scotland to independence.

“I was first elected in my mid-twenties, dedicating my most formative adult years to public service. In that time, I presented multiple Budgets, supported thousands of businesses and workers during Covid-19 and launched Scotland’s most ambitious business start up network TechScaler. I now wish to step back from my public duties and focus on new opportunities to serve people.

“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.”

In a written reply, Mr Swinney said: “I am sorry that you have taken this decision but recognise and understand your reasons for doing so.

“I have deeply valued the contribution you have made to the work of the Scottish National Party and the Scottish Government and am pleased we will continue to benefit from that in the approach to the May 2026 elections.

“You have made a huge contribution to public life in Scotland and have been instrumental in making progress on economic issues for my Government. You have much to be proud of in all of the work you have undertaken but I am especially heartened by the effect of your leadership on advancing support for the Gaelic language.

“We all wrestle with the inevitable conflicts between family and public life and I sympathise with the dilemmas you have faced. I wish you, Ali and your family well and much happiness in the years ahead.”

There was little business reaction to Ms Forbes’ announcement. David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium said: “During her time in Government Kate Forbes has been a consistent champion of Scotland’s business community.

“From her work as Public Finance Minister on the Non-Domestic Rates Bill through to her current position as Deputy First Minister and Economy Secretary she has been quick to engage with retail businesses and take action when appropriate. 

“In particular, we would note her efforts as Finance Secretary during the Covid Pandemic where the decisions she took to provide immediate rates relief protected thousands of businesses during that desperate crisis.

“Inevitably there have been times where the retail industry and the government have not seen eye-to-eye. However, Kate Forbes was always open and honest in her engagement and never hid away regardless of whether we agreed or not. She leaves with a distinguished record in government and we wish her well for the future.”

Comment: Why Kate Forbes was an SNP misfit

MSPs not seeking re-election

SNP

• Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (MSP for Glasgow Southside)
• Former First Minister Humza Yousaf (MSP for Glasgow Pollok)
• Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes (MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch)
• Finance Secretary Shona Robison (MSP for Dundee City East)
• Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop (MSP for Linlithgow)
• Michael Matheson (MSP for Falkirk West)
• Mairi Gougeon (MSP for Angus North and Mearns)
• Richard Lochhead (MSP for Moray)
• Annabelle Ewing (MSP for Cowdenbeath)
• Christine Grahame (MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale)
• Elena Whitham (MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley)
• Ruth Maguire (MSP for Cunninghame South)
• Joe FitzPatrick (MSP for Dundee City West)
• Michelle Thomson (MSP for Falkirk East)
• Audrey Nicoll (MSP for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine)
• Evelyn Tweed (MSP for Stirling)
• Graeme Dey (MSP for Angus South)
• Rona Mackay (MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden)
• Gordon MacDonald (MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands)
• Natalie Don-Innes (MSP for Renfrewshire North and West)
• Bill Kidd (MSP for Glasgow Anniesland)
• James Dornan (MSP for Glasgow Cathcart)

Labour

• Richard Leonard (MSP for Central Scotland)
• Alex Rowley (MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife)

Conservative

• Liz Smith (MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife)
• Oliver Mundell (MSP for Dumfriesshire)
• Edward Mountain (MSP for Highlands and Islands)
• Douglas Ross (MSP for Highlands and Islands)
• Maurice Golden (MSP for North East Scotland)

Liberal Democrat

• Beatrice Wishart  (MSP Shetland)