Forbes Dismisses Blackford Candidacy Speculation Amid Departure

Kate Forbes, the current Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has announced her intention to step down at the next election in September 2024. Following her announcement, media reports suggested that former SNP leader Ian Blackford was contemplating a bid for the position, encouraged by local party members. However, Forbes has urged caution regarding these claims.

Speaking at a live recording of the Herald’s Unspun podcast during the Edinburgh Fringe, Forbes indicated that she recently spoke with Blackford and he did not mention any interest in seeking the nomination for her seat. “I had a chat with him a few days ago and that certainly wasn’t in the conversation,” Forbes stated, adding that she views the speculation with a “huge dose of salt.”

Forbes elaborated on the process for selecting her successor, emphasizing the importance of healthy competition among local party members. “I do think it needs to be a healthy competition and certainly he hasn’t told me that,” she remarked, referring to Blackford’s potential candidacy. When asked if she would support Blackford, who was succeeded by current SNP leader Stephen Flynn, Forbes chose not to commit. She expressed her intention to wait for the official list of candidates before making a decision.

The Deputy First Minister also declined to comment on who might succeed her as the leader of the SNP. Alongside Forbes, Flynn and Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan are considered prominent figures in any future leadership contest. When questioned about this topic, Forbes dismissed the premise, focusing instead on her upcoming departure from Holyrood.

Forbes shared that her decision was influenced by a recent visit to an orphanage in India, which left a profound impact on her. “I was just really overwhelmed that these kids, these really precious kids, didn’t have something that my daughter did have,” she said. This experience made her reflect on her frequent absences from home, highlighting the emotional toll it took on her family life.

She expressed the difficulty of committing to another five years in public service, stating, “I just don’t have the heart to do that for another five years.” Forbes’ personal journey underscores the challenges faced by public officials in balancing their professional responsibilities with family commitments.

As the political landscape in Scotland evolves, the upcoming election will be pivotal for the SNP, especially with the question of leadership and succession looming large. With Forbes stepping away, local party dynamics and candidate nominations will likely become a focal point in the months leading up to the election.