Kate Forbes not running in race to replace Humza Yousaf

Kate Forbes has announced she is not entering the race to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister.

The former finance secretary had been tipped as a potential frontrunner after narrowly failing to beat Mr Yousaf in last year's leadership election to replace then first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The search is currently on to find a new leader for the SNP and Scotland following Mr Yousaf's resignation on Monday.

Former deputy first minister John Swinney is the first to join the race.

He paid tribute to Ms Forbes during his announcement, stating: "We have many talented people leading the work of the Scottish government. I want Kate Forbes to play a significant part in that team.

"She is an intelligent, creative, thoughtful person who has much to contribute to our national life. And if elected, I will make sure that Kate is able to make that contribution."

Ms Forbes first entered Holyrood in 2016 following a stint working for her predecessor, Dave Thompson.

A Cambridge-educated accountant, the newly-minted MSP found herself in ministerial office by the summer of 2018.

She was thrust into the spotlight in 2020 when then finance secretary Derek Mackay resigned in disgrace after messages he had sent to a 16-year-old boy were published by the Scottish Sun on the eve of the Scottish budget.

With just hours to prepare, Ms Forbes was forced to step in and deliver the budget, drawing plaudits from across the chamber and across Scotland, before she was eventually promoted into the role herself.

While on maternity leave and caring for her daughter Naomi in 2023, Ms Sturgeon announced she was stepping down as first minister and SNP leader.

That contest was bruising for the SNP as candidates Ms Forbes, Mr Yousaf and Ash Regan traded blows during lively televised debates.

Ms Forbes faced backlash during her leadership campaign to succeed Ms Sturgeon after admitting she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland when it was made legal a decade ago.

The Free Church of Scotland member also told Sky News that having children out of marriage is "wrong" and something she would "seek to avoid".

However, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch stressed that "in a free society you can do what you want".

Ms Forbes had argued that "continuity won't cut it".

She would go on to lose to Mr Yousaf by 48% to 52% in the final round of voting, and later turned down the role of rural affairs minister, which at the time was seen as a demotion.

Although her views on social issues remain unpopular with some of her MSP colleagues, she was one of the few SNP ministers who did not delete her WhatsApp messages during the COVID pandemic.

Read more:
SNP stands at a crossroads - but what direction will party take?
Yousaf warns against toxic leadership contest

Nominations for SNP leader close at noon on Monday 6 May.

Prospective candidates will have to gain the support of 100 members from 20 different SNP branches to qualify for the contest.

Any potential ballot will then open at 12pm on Monday 13 May and will close at noon on Monday 27 May.

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