JOHN Swinney's wife Elizabeth Quigley has announced she is leaving the BBC after suffering with "excruciating pain" from multiple sclerosis.
Quigley started working for the broadcaster in November 1999 and was the broadcaster's first female political correspondent in the new Scottish Parliament.
But she was diagnosed with MS just three months later aged just 28 and has battled with the condition throughout her journalism career.
In a piece for BBC News, she has revealed she has been battling with trigeminal neuralgia that causes "excruciating pain like an electric shock across the side of my face" and can stop her from eating, speaking and drinking, which has led her to a decision to leave the corporation.
She said: "It's not part of everyone's life with MS but it has recently become part of mine – and being unable to speak is not great for a broadcaster.
"Thanks to my neurologist and the NHS team looking after me, I've managed to regain my speech and reduce the amount of discomfort I'm in – but the pain can, and does, reappear.
"So, unfortunately, I've had to make the very difficult decision to leave the BBC on health grounds."
First Minister Swinney shared her piece on Twitter/X saying: "Some news from my ever courageous wife. So proud of Elizabeth and all that she accomplishes."
Quigley writes in the piece about her diagnosis after having the "strange feeling of pins and needles in my face".
For a few years she did not experience any symptoms but in 2007 she felt she had to reveal her diagnosis as she began stumbling more.
Some news from my ever courageous wife. So proud of Elizabeth and all that she accomplishes. https://t.co/pSdpYjiBWQ
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) August 28, 2026
The year after she revealed her diagnosis she turned it into journalism as she made TV and radio documentaries about MS.
She said she continues to hope something will be done about Scotland having what are believed to be the highest rates of MS in the world.
"I told how Scotland was believed to have the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world and concluded by saying that finding a cure - or even some answers as to why it's so common here - would definitely be a very good ending to my story," she wrote.
"Almost two decades later that has not yet happened."
When Quigley was pregnant with her and Swinney's son Matthew, her symptoms largely disappeared and continued to be absent for nine months after his birth.
She said more research needs to be done into how hormones could play a part in treating MS.
"When I investigated this strange phenomenon - and made a radio documentary on the subject - I discovered that hormones have a major part to play and that more research definitely needs to be done," she wrote.
She went on: "Many changes have happened since I was diagnosed in 2000. There were very few disease-modifying therapies back then - now there are about 20.
"Unfortunately, there is still no cure.
"I was initially diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS. Now, I have secondary progressive. The tingling in my face has largely disappeared, but my walking has become increasingly difficult over the years. I need crutches or a rollator and sometimes I need a wheelchair.
I've always maintained that you can live life well with MS - it might just have to be a bit differently. And my career proves that.
"I am very grateful to everyone who has helped me continue in the job I have loved for so many years. But now the time has come to close this chapter and start a new one."
