Kate Forbes

Kate Forbes
Official portrait, 2024
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
In office
8 May 2024 – 20 May 2026
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byShona Robison
Succeeded byJenny Gilruth
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
In office
9 May 2024 – 20 May 2026
First MinisterJohn Swinney
Preceded byMàiri McAllan (Economy)
Succeeded byStephen Flynn (Economy)
Màiri McAllan (Gaelic)
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy
In office
17 February 2020 – 28 March 2023
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byDerek Mackay
Succeeded byShona Robison (Finance)
Neil Gray (Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy)
Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy
In office
27 June 2018 – 17 February 2020
First MinisterNicola Sturgeon
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byBen Macpherson
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
In office
5 May 2016 – 9 April 2026
Preceded byDave Thompson
Succeeded byAndrew Baxter
Personal details
Born
Kate Elizabeth Forbes

(1990-04-06) 6 April 1990 (age 36)
Dingwall, Highland, Scotland
Political partyScottish National Party (SNP)
Spouse(s)
Alasdair MacLennan
​
​
(m. 2021)​
Children1
Alma materSelwyn College, Cambridge (BA)
University of Edinburgh (MSc)
SignatureFile:Signature of Kate Forbes.png
Websitewww.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps/kate-forbes

Kate Elizabeth Forbes (born 6 April 1990) is a Scottish politician. She was the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic from 2024 until 2026.

Forbes is a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP). She was Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy from 2020 to 2023. Forbes has been Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch since 2016.

When Nicola Sturgeon resigned as Leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland, Forbes announced her candidacy for leader in the 2023 SNP leadership election. While a popular candidate at first, she soon lost her popularity in the election for her anti-abortion and anti-same-sex marriage views. She lost the election to Humza Yousaf.

When Yousaf's resigned in April 2024, Forbes was seen as a possible candidate to replace him in the 2024 SNP leadership election but she chose not to run and supported John Swinney. Swinney later appointed Forbes Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic in his government.

On 4 August 2025, Forbes announced that she would be retiring as an MSP at the 2026 election.

Notes

  1. ↑ The post was titled Cabinet Secretary for Finance from 2020 to 2021 before assuming responsibility for the Economy from Fiona Hyslop.
  2. ↑ Forbes was on maternity leave from 16 July 2022 until 28 March 2023; John Swinney was acting Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy in her absence.

References

  1. ↑ "Cabinet and Ministers - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  2. ↑ McDonald, Andrew (22 February 2023). "Kate Forbes: 48 hours that shot down the SNP's brightest star". Politico Europe. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Deerin, Chris (21 February 2023). "Is Kate Forbes's SNP leadership campaign over already?". New Statesman. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  4. ↑ Brooks, Libby (27 March 2023). "Humza Yousaf elected leader of Scottish National party". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  5. ↑ McCurdy, Rebecca (2024-04-29). "Who may succeed Humza Yousaf as Scotland's first minister?". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  6. ↑ Cochrane, Angus (2024-05-02). "Kate Forbes backs John Swinney for first minister". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  7. ↑ "Kate Forbes appointed Scotland's deputy first minister". BBC News. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  8. ↑ "Deputy FM Kate Forbes to stand down at next year's Holyrood election". STV News. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  9. ↑ "Kate Forbes will not seek re-election in 2026". The Herald. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 4 August 2025.

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