Lib Dems respond to Kate Forbes standing down at next election

Responding to the news that Kate Forbes will step down from the Scottish Parliament at the next election, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“Kate and I were both elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016 and there have been several occasions when we’ve worked well together on shared interests since. I wish her family well for everything that comes next.

“This is a top target seat for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, having won the equivalent seat at Westminster last year. We’re campaigning hard to fix the care crisis, to cut your energy bills, and for better local healthcare having recently secured the replacement for the Belford Hospital in the Scottish Budget.

“Scotland deserves better and people in the Highlands know that our hardworking champion Andrew Baxter is best placed to beat the SNP.”

Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Angus MacDonald said:

“Having campaigned alongside Kate on a range of local issues, I’d like to thank her for the work and effort she has put in as the MSP for this constituency.

“But the SNP have a broken relationship with the Highlands. On their watch, access to health care has deteriorated, local schools are in disrepair and the cost of living has soared.

“Andrew Baxter secured an overwhelming by-election victory in this constituency last year- a symbol of the trust that local people place in him to fight their corner. Andrew and the Scottish Liberal Democrats represent the change that people in the Highlands badly need.”