Being a mum is harder than being deputy first minister, says Kate Forbes

"Talking about her reasons for walking away from politics, she told BBC Scotland that nothing would tempt her back - not even the top job. "From the very depths of my heart, I have no intentions of coming back to politics," she said. "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.""

"Three months ago, Forbes - once a rising star of the SNP government - dropped the bombshell that she would not stand in next year's Scottish election. She insists she has had no wobbles since her announcement that she would now focus on family life. We are meeting in her hometown of Dingwall, 168 miles from Edinburgh where the Scottish Parliament sits. It is by any stretch, a hefty weekly commute and coupled with a young family and a demanding job, she says it became too big a challenge."

"A young high-flier, Forbes was thrust into the spotlight in February 2020 when she was promoted to finance secretary following the resignation of Derek MacKay. Earlier that month, with less than 24-hours' notice, she had become the first woman to deliver a Scottish Budget. Forbes marked another first when she became the first Scottish minister to take maternity leave, when she left to have her daughter Naomi in August 2022."

Kate Forbes admitted that motherhood proved more difficult than serving as deputy first minister of Scotland. Forbes decided not to stand in the next Scottish election in order to prioritize family life. The weekly commute from Dingwall to Edinburgh (168 miles), combined with a young family and a demanding ministerial role, made balancing responsibilities impractical. Forbes rose rapidly, becoming finance secretary in February 2020 and delivering a Scottish Budget with less than 24 hours' notice. Forbes became the first Scottish minister to take maternity leave to have her daughter Naomi in August 2022. Returning after maternity leave created daily logistical impossibilities, and Forbes states no intention to return to frontline politics.

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