Finance Secretary announces she's expecting her first child
The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP confirmed the news this afternoon
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and her husband are expecting a baby.
She announced the pregnancy this afternoon, after her and Ali MacLennan got married in Dingwall last summer.
Ms Forbes is set to become the first-ever serving Cabinet Secretary to go on maternity leave.
The new addition to the family, which already consists of three teen daughters Rachael, Rebekah and Zara, is expected this summer.
Ms Forbes says her constituency office and team will continue supporting local residents throughout that period as normal.
Arrangements to cover the Cabinet Secretary’s Ministerial responsibilities will be set out by the First Minister in due course.
Ms Forbes said: "My husband Ali and I are absolutely delighted to announce that we are expecting a baby later this year.
“All being well, we’re looking forward to welcoming a new member of the family in the summer.
“We have been incredibly grateful for the kind messages of support from family, friends, constituents and colleagues.
“In the meantime, I have a very busy few months ahead including the final stage of the Budget this week and supporting people through the cost of living crisis.
“I will be taking maternity leave when the baby arrives - but I want to reassure constituents that my office will remain open, and my constituency team will continue to provide help and support, as usual, to the residents of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy added: “I have an even deeper admiration for the thousands of women across the country who balance both work and personal responsibilities.
"There might be particular challenges with being a politician in the public eye, whilst combating the side effects of pregnancy, but it is an experience which is familiar to countless women.
“Politics, like many workplaces, is not renowned for being a supportive environment for parents. Hopefully I can play a small part in changing that, and demonstrating that it is possible to have children and a career, with the right support in place.”
FM offers "warmest congratulations"
First Minster Nicola Sturgeon was one of many to congratulate the couple.
She said: "On behalf of the Scottish Government, I want to offer the warmest of congratulations to Kate, Ali and their family on this lovely news.
“I am pleased Kate will be able to enjoy those precious early months with her new arrival and her wider family.
"This should never be a barrier to someone’s career, especially women in senior leadership roles.
"That’s why we are clear Kate is not leaving government. She will remain Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy while on leave and take up her duties again upon her return.”