Ian Blackford rules out running for Holyrood next year after Kate Forbes quits
Ian Blackford has ruled out running for Holyrood next year.
The former SNP Westminster leader had been encouraged to stand in place of Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.
Forbes announced last week she would be standing down as MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.
Blackford represented the overlapping Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat in the Commons between 2015 and 2024.
But the 64-year-old said he would not be standing in 2026 despite giving it "careful consideration".
He said: 'With Kate Forbes having announced she would not be contesting the seat of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch at the Scottish Parliament in 2026, I have received many promptings to potentially represent the SNP in the election next year.
'I am very grateful to all those who have encouraged me to step forward for the 2026 election. I was particularly minded that many of those prompting me were those I have campaigned with for many years - people I have the highest respect for and who I hold very dearly.
'It was out of a deep respect to all of these people that, although I had previously stated that I would not stand for the Scottish Parliament, I decided to give due consideration to those requests. I am honoured to have been asked and I do not take lightly the responsibility that they all encouraged me to take on.
'Having reflected carefully I have concluded that I will not present my name as a potential candidate for the 2026 election.
'In coming to this decision there are many things that I have reflected on. I do believe that I am still of an age that I can serve my party and my country.
'I joined the SNP as a teenager in the 1970s and I see the journey to independence as being very much unfinished business. I will support the SNP and its leader, my old friend and colleague John Swinney, to the full."
He said he may run in the future: 'Working with others I do want to participate in that debate on our future and perhaps, in the time ahead, there may be future opportunities to return to front line politics.
'On this occasion though - after careful consideration – I will not be putting my name forward for next year's Scottish parliament elections. The opportunity and the privilege of seeking to represent this Highland's seat at the Scottish Parliament will fall to another and we are fortunate to have a range of capable candidates in the SNP.
'Whomever my party chooses, they will have my full support in what I am confident will be a successful election for the SNP under the leadership of John Swinney.'
Blackford became the SNP's group leader in the Commons in 2017 following Angus Robertson's defeat in that year's general election.
He held that post for five years but stepped aside in December 2022 as he was facing a challenge from current leader Stephen Flynn.
He previously faced criticism for his handling of complaints of sexual harassment by a party staffer against SNP MP Patrick Grady.
A Commons investigation handed Grady a two-day suspension from parliament last year after finding he had made the advances to the then 19-year-old man in 2016.
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