Last week was one that began with a big surprise, continuing what has been a very busy summer on the news front.

The announcement from Kate Forbes, who has had a very high profile since being appointed as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic in May last year, that she would not be standing at next year’s Holyrood election came as a bolt from the blue.

The MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch declared she did not want to “miss any more of the precious early years of family life”.

While the decision is entirely understandable, there is no doubting Ms Forbes will be a major loss to the SNP.

She has embraced her Cabinet responsibilities energetically, visiting many businesses.

Ms Forbes has celebrated the success of Prestwick Airport, owned by the Scottish Government since 2013.

However, she has also been up front when the news has been less good.

When I interviewed Ms Forbes in June, she highlighted her disappointment at a further delay in the delivery of the Glen Rosa ferry for Caledonian MacBrayne which had been announced in May by Port Glasgow........

© Herald Scotland