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Kate Forbes has openly shared that the challenges of motherhood outweigh the demands of serving as Scotland’s deputy first minister. Representing Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, she has found it increasingly difficult to balance the intense responsibilities of her governmental role alongside caring for a young family and enduring a lengthy commute to the Scottish Parliament.
In a candid conversation with BBC Scotland, Forbes explained her decision to step away from politics, emphasizing that nothing—not even the possibility of leading the country—would persuade her to return. “From the very depths of my heart, I have no intentions of coming back to politics,” she stated firmly. She also reflected on her future, saying, “I can’t promise you what I will be doing age 75, but I have no desire to return to frontline politics anytime soon. And I don’t think there is any prize that’s big enough to change my mind.”
Forbes’ announcement to not stand in the upcoming Scottish election came as a surprise to many, especially considering her rapid ascent within the SNP government. Often seen as a rising star, she took on the role of finance secretary in February 2020, following Derek MacKay’s resignation, and marked a historic moment by delivering the Scottish Budget—becoming the first woman ever to do so—with less than a day’s notice. Further breaking new ground, she was the first Scottish minister to take maternity leave when she welcomed her daughter Naomi in August 2022.
Despite the Scottish Parliament’s professed commitment to family-friendly policies, Forbes pointed to real obstacles, including limited childcare facilities which operate only a few hours a day on select weekdays. The strain of juggling high-level political duties, a demanding weekly commute from her home in Dingwall (168 miles from Edinburgh), and motherhood proved overwhelming. Forbes recounted her return to work after maternity leave as feeling “like an exercise in logistical impossibilities.” Her eventual decision to leave politics came shortly after a family holiday when she realized, “I didn’t have to,” and recognized that she had other choices to prioritize her family’s needs. She also highlighted the ongoing struggles many women face in politics, noting, “So many parents know the pressures and the guilt of balancing all of this.”
Throughout her decade at Holyrood, Forbes moved steadily upward, eventually becoming deputy to John Swinney and contending for SNP leadership following Nicola Sturgeon’s departure. Although she finished second to Humza Yousaf in 2023, her candidacy was accompanied by scrutiny over her views linked to her faith, particularly on topics such as gay marriage, gender, and children born outside marriage. Speaking about this criticism, she remarked, “The problem with our media culture is there is no space for nuance. In a lot of these issues there needs to be space for genuine open conversation.” Reflecting on how she would respond to her children sharing sensitive news, she explained, “Exactly as any mum would handle anything from a daughter or son, which is ‘What do you need?’” She also challenged assumptions about faith and love, stating, “All of us – faith or no faith – have a moral compass by which they live their lives.”
Addressing the fact that no mother has yet served as Scotland’s first minister, Forbes believes it is achievable but only with appropriate support systems in place. “Yes – but only with the right support around her,” she noted. Such support would include flexible working arrangements and recognition from the government and civil service that balancing leadership and family commitments requires additional accommodations
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