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| Kate Forbes: Holyrood childcare provision 'doesn't make sense' | Kate Forbes: Holyrood childcare provision 'doesn't make sense' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Kate Forbes has been an SNP MSP since 2016 | Kate Forbes has been an SNP MSP since 2016 |
| Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has called for greater support at Holyrood for politicians juggling the demands of parenthood. | Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has called for greater support at Holyrood for politicians juggling the demands of parenthood. |
| The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP, whose daughter turned three this month, announced on Monday that she would not seek re-election next year. | The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP, whose daughter turned three this month, announced on Monday that she would not seek re-election next year. |
| Forbes has since criticised the Scottish Parliament's crèche facilities, which are only available for three hours a day from Tuesday to Thursday. | Forbes has since criticised the Scottish Parliament's crèche facilities, which are only available for three hours a day from Tuesday to Thursday. |
| She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the childcare provision "doesn't make sense". | She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the childcare provision "doesn't make sense". |
| Gail Ross stood down before the last Holyrood election due to the demands of travelling to Edinburgh and being away from her family every week | Gail Ross stood down before the last Holyrood election due to the demands of travelling to Edinburgh and being away from her family every week |
| In 2020 Gail Ross, the SNP's MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, announced that she would not seek re-election as she wanted to watch her son grow up. | In 2020 Gail Ross, the SNP's MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, announced that she would not seek re-election as she wanted to watch her son grow up. |
| Forbes said others who had taken a similar view included SNP minister Aileen Campbell, Labour MSP Jenny Marra and former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson. | Forbes said others who had taken a similar view included SNP minister Aileen Campbell, Labour MSP Jenny Marra and former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson. |
| The deputy first minister said: "I am not the first and, unless anything changes, I am unlikely to be the last. | The deputy first minister said: "I am not the first and, unless anything changes, I am unlikely to be the last. |
| "So many parents know the pressures and the guilt of balancing all of this." | "So many parents know the pressures and the guilt of balancing all of this." |
| Labour's Jenny Marra stood down as an MSP ahead of the 2021 election | Labour's Jenny Marra stood down as an MSP ahead of the 2021 election |
| Forbes, who has been an SNP MSP since 2016, covers a constituency which stretches from Mallaig on the west coast through the Great Glen to the Cromarty Firth. | Forbes, who has been an SNP MSP since 2016, covers a constituency which stretches from Mallaig on the west coast through the Great Glen to the Cromarty Firth. |
| She has the added challenge of an eight-hour return trip from her home to Edinburgh. | She has the added challenge of an eight-hour return trip from her home to Edinburgh. |
| The former leadership contender said: "That adds a particular dimension because you know you are not going to be able to get home every night." | The former leadership contender said: "That adds a particular dimension because you know you are not going to be able to get home every night." |
| Forbes said there were areas where Holyrood "could do more and do better", such as its creche facility. | Forbes said there were areas where Holyrood "could do more and do better", such as its creche facility. |
| She added: "I have long been campaigning because it is limited to three hours a day and I don't know anybody who only works three hours a day so that doesn't make sense. | She added: "I have long been campaigning because it is limited to three hours a day and I don't know anybody who only works three hours a day so that doesn't make sense. |
| "And I'm certainly not advocating for the job to be any less demanding or all consuming. | "And I'm certainly not advocating for the job to be any less demanding or all consuming. |
| "It has to be, by its very nature of representing people. | "It has to be, by its very nature of representing people. |
| "But if we can't even get some of the basic support right then it will always be difficult for mums and dads." | "But if we can't even get some of the basic support right then it will always be difficult for mums and dads." |
| In 2021 Marra questioned why the Scottish Parliament does not have a full-time nursery but Westminster does. | In 2021 Marra questioned why the Scottish Parliament does not have a full-time nursery but Westminster does. |
| Forbes was appointed deputy first minister by John Swinney last May | Forbes was appointed deputy first minister by John Swinney last May |
| Forbes said she reached her decision over the summer recess and took into account that re-election would mean committing to a full five-year parliamentary term. | Forbes said she reached her decision over the summer recess and took into account that re-election would mean committing to a full five-year parliamentary term. |
| She told the programme that when her daughter went to school she would be "anchored" to one location. | She told the programme that when her daughter went to school she would be "anchored" to one location. |
| The deputy first minister added that she was not willing to move to Edinburgh with a husband and three stepdaughters. | The deputy first minister added that she was not willing to move to Edinburgh with a husband and three stepdaughters. |
| Forbes said: "That is why I have come to this decision." | Forbes said: "That is why I have come to this decision." |
| She also expressed concern that parents would be less represented in Holyrood unless the situation changed. | She also expressed concern that parents would be less represented in Holyrood unless the situation changed. |
| Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth told Good Morning Scotland that Forbes would be missed at Holyrood. | |
| She added: "I think the points Kate has made about parliament and the provision of childcare are really important." | |
| Michelle Thomson, who ran Forbes' SNP leadership campaign in 2023, told the programme it was disappointing to lose a politician of Forbes' calibre, especially as she is only 35. | |
| The Falkirk East MSP described the deputy first minister's Highland constituency as "utterly vast" and the working hours in parliament as "incredibly long". | |
| She said something needed to change. | |
| Thomson added: "The provision, in terms of nursery care, is still way too slight and that is a common complaint, not just of young women with children but also men as well." | |
| Forbes confirmed her intention to stand down in a letter to First Minister John Swinney. | Forbes confirmed her intention to stand down in a letter to First Minister John Swinney. |
| She said she did not want to "miss any more of the precious early years of family life". | She said she did not want to "miss any more of the precious early years of family life". |
| Forbes will continue as an MSP for another nine months, with the Holyrood election scheduled for May 2026. | Forbes will continue as an MSP for another nine months, with the Holyrood election scheduled for May 2026. |
| Swinney said she had made an "invaluable contribution to public life" over the past decade. | Swinney said she had made an "invaluable contribution to public life" over the past decade. |
| First elected in 2016, Forbes enjoyed a rapid rise to become Scotland's first female finance secretary in 2020. | First elected in 2016, Forbes enjoyed a rapid rise to become Scotland's first female finance secretary in 2020. |
| She was narrowly defeated in the 2023 SNP leadership contest by Humza Yousaf but returned to government as Swinney's deputy last May. | She was narrowly defeated in the 2023 SNP leadership contest by Humza Yousaf but returned to government as Swinney's deputy last May. |
| She is among more than 20 SNP MSPs to have announced they will not seek re-election next year. | She is among more than 20 SNP MSPs to have announced they will not seek re-election next year. |