Kate Forbes to Step Down as MSP in 2026, Citing Childcare Struggles and SNP Turmoil

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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Kate Forbes' Decision Shakes Scottish Politics

Kate Forbes, known for her rapid rise within the SNP and the Scottish Government, has announced she’ll step down as an MSP in 2026. Hard to ignore the sense of frustration in her decision: juggling political life while raising a family just isn’t working, especially with the Scottish Parliament’s creche offering only three hours of care, three days a week. Anyone with kids knows—those hours barely cover a single afternoon committee session.

Representing Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch since 2016, Forbes has seen the highs and lows of political life. She got a major boost in 2020 when suddenly thrust into the role of Finance Secretary after Derek Mackay quit. She was young, calm under pressure, and quickly built a reputation for handling big money decisions during stormy political times. But the job demands didn’t make balancing government work and family life any easier.

Her straight-talking style won her loyal supporters, but it made waves, too. Running for SNP leadership in 2023, Forbes lost to Humza Yousaf after facing tough questions about her views on abortion, same-sex marriage and gender identity. Some felt her outlook wasn’t a good fit for a party trying to present itself as inclusive and modern. But she never dodged the tough questions—something rare in politics.

Public Scrutiny and Party Pressure

Serving under John Swinney after a bumpy patch for the SNP, Forbes became Deputy First Minister, playing a central role as the party tried to steady itself. But she soon faced sharper criticism from the Scottish Greens, especially over her record on LGBTQ+ and abortion rights. Patrick Harvie of the Greens even accused her of dragging the country backwards. Forbes, never one to mince words, defended her record and said she stood for equal rights, but made no secret of her views on traditional definitions of womanhood.

This all happened as the SNP stumbled through bitter internal arguments about gender recognition policies and how to handle single-sex spaces. Few topics have split the party like this one, with Forbes openly siding with more traditional stances. All the noise couldn’t have made her decision to walk away any easier. But with the party’s recent poor performance in the 2024 UK general election, Forbes ended up backing Swinney and promising to focus on competence and integrity—two words the SNP sorely needs as it tries to win back trust.

Forbes has said she might return to politics in the distant future, once her kids are grown. For now, she’s stepping back, putting her family first, and leaving Scottish political circles to ponder what her departure means for a party still searching for its footing. Her exit isn’t just another resignation; it’s a wake-up call, highlighting how tough modern political life can be for anyone with family responsibilities—especially when the workplace just hasn’t kept up.