IAN Blackford has announced he will not stand as a candidate in next year's Holyrood election.
The former SNP Westminster leader previously said he was giving "careful consideration" to making a dramatic return to frontline politics.
The former leader of the SNP at Westminster has said he has had calls from supporters urging him to stand in the constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch after its current MSP – Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes – announced she will be standing down.
In a post on social media on Thursday evening, Blackford said that while he was "grateful" for these calls, he had "reflected carefully" and decided not to stand.
However, he clarified that he was not ruling out a return to frontline politics in the future.
Blackford 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.
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.
— Ian Blackford (@blackfordian1) August 14, 2025
"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."
Blackford went on to say that he was "honoured" to have been asked to stand and that "I do not take lightly the responsibility that they all encouraged me to take on".
But he added: "Having reflected carefully I have concluded that I will not present my name as a potential candidate for the 2026 election."
Blackford affirmed that "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 1970’s 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 added.
Blackford said that he believed he could make a contribution to debates, particularly on "the economics of independence".
"When I observe the UK and its economy, I believe we have a state which is in serious economic and financial uncertainty," he went on.
He added: "My firm judgement is that the UK is not far off another financial crisis that would be cataclysmic. In short – Britain is broken."
Blackford called on his SNP colleagues to explore "how we can make Scotland a safe haven" through independence.
He continued: "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 decided not to run in last year’s General Election.
He had served as the MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber since 2015 and said at the time that he looked forward to “playing my part” from outside frontline politics.
He was ousted as Westminster leader of the SNP in late 2022. Some MPs felt his style at Prime Minister’s Questions was too long-winded and many preferred Stephen Flynn’s snappier approach.
