After narrowly missing out on the SNP leadership, Kate Forbes returned to the heart of the Scottish Government as Deputy First Minister – but the once party leader contender has shocked the political world by announcing she will not seek re-election.
Appointed as Finance Secretary under Nicola Sturgeon, and then as Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic and Deputy First Minister under John Swinney, Forbes has had a front seat to the [[SNP]]’s dominance at Holyrood. But what does she make of her years in frontline politics, and what does she see for the party she's taking a step back from as Scots return to the polls next year?
This Thursday, on August 7th, she’ll take the Dissection Room stage in Summerhall at The Herald’s Unspun Live as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, tasked by our political editor Andrew Learmonth and provided with questions from our audience.
Tickets for Unspun Live at the Fringe are £18, but our readers can take advantage of a special 2-for-1 offer.
Buy them here through the Summerhall website using 'UNSPUN' in the promotion code box.
It is a fascinating time to get the Deputy First Minister's perspective, with Forbes saying she will not stand at next year's Holyrood election.
In a post on social media, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said that after "careful thought" over Summer, she had "decided not to seek re-election" but would "continue to serve the First Minister, the Government and my constituents to the best of my ability until May 2026".
In a letter to the First Minister, Forbes – whose daughter Naomi turns three this month – said she did not want to "miss any more of the precious early years of family life".
Forbes is the fourth of four high-profile guests joining The Herald’s Unspun Live at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Audiences have already heard from Professor Sir John Curtice, but be sure not to miss First Minister [[John Swinney]] and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, respectively.
Forbes is a skilled debater with a reputation for straight-talking, but how will she handle not having a say in the future of a party she helped to carry? Come along to Summerhall and find out.
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