The most recent election to the Scottish Parliament happened back in 2021. The next one is expected to be held in May 2026. It has been reported in different media reports that Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes is not going to be part of the 2026 Holyrood Election.
The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP recently said in a statement that she does not intend to “seek re-election and miss any more of the precious early years of family life.” Her daughter turned three this month and Forbes seeks to focus more on parenting.
It has been reported that Forbes is going to continue to play her current role as an MSP for another nine months. The First Minister noted Forbes’s “invaluable contributions to public life” in the past 10 years.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to not take on the role of MSP in 2026
First elected in 2016, Kate Forbes became the first female finance secretary of Scotland in 2020. She faced defeat in the 2023 Scottish National Party (SNP) leadership contest, returning to the public scene as the Deputy First Minister last year.
Forbes is not ready to “miss any more of these precious early years of family life,” reported BBC. She said it could take up to 5 hours to commute from her home in the Highland to the Parliament in Edinburgh.
In addition, Forbes has also raised concerns about the levels of child care support offered to MSPs. She also appears to be excited about continuing to campaign for the SNP at the upcoming election in 2026, a significant poll being closely monitored by many.
