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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/29/kate-forbes-leaving-scottish-government-personal-reasons-insists-yousaf-deputy
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| Forbes leaving Scottish government for personal reasons, insists Yousaf deputy | Forbes leaving Scottish government for personal reasons, insists Yousaf deputy |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Shona Robison says SNP leadership rival had taken decision to step back ‘to spend time with her family’ | Shona Robison says SNP leadership rival had taken decision to step back ‘to spend time with her family’ |
| Kate Forbes wanted “time out of the spotlight to spend time with her family”, according to Humza Yousaf’s newly appointed deputy, Shona Robison, after his Scottish National party leadership rival announced she would be leaving the Scottish government rather than accept the rural affairs demotion he offered her. | Kate Forbes wanted “time out of the spotlight to spend time with her family”, according to Humza Yousaf’s newly appointed deputy, Shona Robison, after his Scottish National party leadership rival announced she would be leaving the Scottish government rather than accept the rural affairs demotion he offered her. |
| Allies of Forbes described the offer – a significant step down from her previous position as finance secretary – as “an insult” after Yousaf offered her a role in his new cabinet as cabinet secretary for rural affairs and islands. | Allies of Forbes described the offer – a significant step down from her previous position as finance secretary – as “an insult” after Yousaf offered her a role in his new cabinet as cabinet secretary for rural affairs and islands. |
| The profound divisions that emerged during the SNP leadership campaign appeared to cement themselves on Tuesday as Forbes confirmed she would return to the backbenches. | The profound divisions that emerged during the SNP leadership campaign appeared to cement themselves on Tuesday as Forbes confirmed she would return to the backbenches. |
| Yousaf was officially sworn in as first minister at a short ceremony at the court of session in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning. | |
| He later re-appointed Nicola Sturgeon’s chief of staff, Colin McAllister, to the same role. | |
| One of Forbes’s key supporters, the former SNP minister Alex Neil, described Yousaf’s offer as “an insult and not a real attempt to unite” after he narrowly beat Forbes to the leadership by 52% to 48% on second preferences. | |
| But speaking to BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme on Wednesday morning, Robison insisted Forbes had taken the decision to step back for personal reasons. | But speaking to BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme on Wednesday morning, Robison insisted Forbes had taken the decision to step back for personal reasons. |
| She said: “The very first meeting that the first minister had was with Kate, and he made clear that he wanted Kate to be in government. They spoke on a number of occasions over the last two days and I understand that the discussion was very cordial and was very much centred on what Kate’s thoughts were. She had reflected upon how hard the campaign had been for family life and her desire for better life-work balance and that she decided that time out of the spotlight would be best to spend time with [her] family.” | She said: “The very first meeting that the first minister had was with Kate, and he made clear that he wanted Kate to be in government. They spoke on a number of occasions over the last two days and I understand that the discussion was very cordial and was very much centred on what Kate’s thoughts were. She had reflected upon how hard the campaign had been for family life and her desire for better life-work balance and that she decided that time out of the spotlight would be best to spend time with [her] family.” |
| Shortly after Robison’s interview, it was confirmed that the business minister, Ivan McKee, an early supporter of Forbes, had also resigned from government after being offered what he considered to be a demotion. | Shortly after Robison’s interview, it was confirmed that the business minister, Ivan McKee, an early supporter of Forbes, had also resigned from government after being offered what he considered to be a demotion. |
| During his leadership campaign, Yousaf had said he would depart from Nicola Sturgeon’s “inner circle” leadership style, promising a “big tent” approach. | |
| Forbes is still technically on maternity leave until the end of Easter recess, and gave birth to her first baby last August. | Forbes is still technically on maternity leave until the end of Easter recess, and gave birth to her first baby last August. |
| Robison added that she hoped Forbes would return to government “at some point in the future”. | Robison added that she hoped Forbes would return to government “at some point in the future”. |
| “She has great skills and talents, and I know that that’s something that the first minister believes as well,” she said. | “She has great skills and talents, and I know that that’s something that the first minister believes as well,” she said. |
| Immediately after Yousaf’s formal election as first minister by MSPs on Tuesday, he announced he had asked Robison, a key Sturgeon ally whom she entrusted to steer through her gender recognition reforms, to be his deputy. | |
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| Robison, who is based in Dundee, stood down as health secretary in 2018 after months of intense criticism over her handling of NHS funding crises. Yousaf also lives in Dundee with his family, although he is MSP for the Glasgow Pollok constituency. Robison denied what was construed as a demotion was a signal to the 48% of the SNP membership who voted for Forbes that he was ignoring their views.”No not at all, all cabinet roles are important,” said Robison, adding that Yousaf “was prepared to look at other roles” but Forbes chose to step back for family reasons. | |
| Speaking shortly after being confirmed as the new first minister on Tuesday afternoon, Yousaf said he had spoken to Forbes and “absolutely” wanted her to remain in government – but it was not known at that stage what role she had been offered or whether she would accept. | Speaking shortly after being confirmed as the new first minister on Tuesday afternoon, Yousaf said he had spoken to Forbes and “absolutely” wanted her to remain in government – but it was not known at that stage what role she had been offered or whether she would accept. |
| The pair were photographed chatting and hugging in the Holyrood chamber during the confirmation vote. | The pair were photographed chatting and hugging in the Holyrood chamber during the confirmation vote. |
| After she rejected the role, Forbes later tweeted that the new first minister had her “full support”. | After she rejected the role, Forbes later tweeted that the new first minister had her “full support”. |
| “I have full confidence he will appoint a talented cabinet and ministerial team, able to meet the challenges facing the country.” | “I have full confidence he will appoint a talented cabinet and ministerial team, able to meet the challenges facing the country.” |
| Yousaf is continuing to appoint his cabinet, which he has pledged will be gender-balanced, following Sturgeon’s lead. |