{"id":41144,"date":"2024-05-02T13:49:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T13:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/02\/kate-forbes-not-running-in-snp-leadership-race-to-replace-humza-yousaf-as-scotlands-first-minister\/"},"modified":"2024-05-02T13:49:47","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T13:49:47","slug":"kate-forbes-not-running-in-snp-leadership-race-to-replace-humza-yousaf-as-scotlands-first-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/02\/kate-forbes-not-running-in-snp-leadership-race-to-replace-humza-yousaf-as-scotlands-first-minister\/","title":{"rendered":"Kate Forbes not running in SNP leadership race to replace Humza Yousaf as Scotland’s first minister"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Kate<\/div>


\n<\/p>\n

\n

Kate Forbes has announced she is not entering the race to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister.<\/p>\n

The former finance secretary had been tipped as a potential frontrunner after narrowly failing to beat Mr Yousaf in last year’s leadership election<\/a><\/strong> to replace then first minister Nicola Sturgeon.<\/p>\n

The search is currently on to find a new leader for the SNP and Scotland following Mr Yousaf’s resignation on Monday<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Former deputy first minister John Swinney is the first to declare he is running<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In a statement following his announcement, Ms Forbes confirmed she would be throwing her support behind Mr Swinney following a “frank and constructive” discussion with him over the future of the SNP and Scotland.<\/p>\n

She said: “What emerged was that we share a powerful common purpose for the country. That includes a passion to revitalise our party, reach out to those who feel disempowered and reinvigorate the independence movement.<\/p>\n

“It also includes an understanding that economic growth and tackling poverty must again be key priorities, and that a just transition to net zero must work with, and not against, our communities and businesses.”<\/p>\n

Ms Forbes said Mr Swinney is “determined” to run a “competent, candid government earning the trust of the people”.<\/p>\n

She added: “That was the vision I offered in the last leadership contest, and is evidently demanded by the Scottish public.<\/p>\n

“I have therefore weighed the decision whether or not to seek the leadership of the party with great care.<\/p>\n

“Ultimately, I have concluded that the best way to deliver the urgent change Scotland needs is to join with John Swinney and advocate for that reform agenda within the Scottish government.<\/p>\n

“I can therefore today announce that I will not be seeking nomination as the next SNP leader. John will therefore have my support and endorsement in any campaign to follow.”<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>
\n Image:<\/span>
\n Mr Swinney announcing his bid on Thursday. Pic: PA
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Mr Swinney paid tribute to Ms Forbes during his own announcement and has pledged that she will play a key role in his government team if he is elected to the top job.<\/p>\n

He stated: “We have many talented people leading the work of the Scottish government. I want Kate Forbes to play a significant part in that team.<\/p>\n

“She is an intelligent, creative, thoughtful person who has much to contribute to our national life. And if elected, I will make sure that Kate is able to make that contribution.”<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n \"SNP\n <\/div>
\n Image:<\/span>
\n Kate Forbes pictured in the Highlands at the beginning of April. Pic: PA
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Ms Forbes first entered Holyrood in 2016 following a stint working for her predecessor, Dave Thompson.<\/p>\n

A Cambridge-educated accountant, the newly-minted MSP found herself in ministerial office by the summer of 2018.<\/p>\n

She was thrust into the spotlight in 2020 when then finance secretary Derek Mackay resigned in disgrace after messages he had sent to a 16-year-old boy were published by the Scottish Sun on the eve of the Scottish budget.<\/p>\n

With just hours to prepare, Ms Forbes was forced to step in and deliver the budget, drawing plaudits from across the chamber and across Scotland<\/a><\/strong>, before she was eventually promoted into the role herself.<\/p>\n

While on maternity leave and caring for her daughter Naomi in 2023, Ms Sturgeon announced she was stepping down as first minister and SNP leader<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

That contest was bruising for the SNP as candidates Ms Forbes, Mr Yousaf and Ash Regan traded blows during lively televised debates.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n \"(left\n <\/div>
\n Image:<\/span>
\n Ash Regan and Kate Forbes lost out to Humza Yousaf during the SNP leadership race to replace Nicola Sturgeon last year. Pic: PA
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Ms Forbes faced backlash during her leadership campaign to succeed Ms Sturgeon after admitting she would have voted against gay marriage<\/a><\/strong> in Scotland when it was made legal a decade ago.<\/p>\n

The Free Church of Scotland member also told Sky News<\/a><\/strong> that having children out of marriage is “wrong” and something she would “seek to avoid”.<\/p>\n

However, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch stressed that “in a free society you can do what you want”.<\/p>\n

Ms Forbes had argued that “continuity won’t cut it”.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Humza\n <\/div>
\n Image:<\/span>
\n Humza Yousaf announcing his resignation at Bute House. Pic: PA
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n


\n \"Humza
\n
\n 2:06<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Humza Yousaf announcing his resignation<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

She would go on to lose to Mr Yousaf<\/a><\/strong> by 48% to 52% in the final round of voting, and later turned down the role of rural affairs minister, which at the time was seen as a demotion.<\/p>\n

Although her views on social issues remain unpopular with some of her MSP colleagues, she was one of the few SNP ministers who did not delete her WhatsApp messages<\/a><\/strong> during the COVID pandemic.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong>
What direction will party take now?<\/a>
Yousaf warns against toxic leadership contest<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n \"Follow
\n <\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n <\/div>\n
\n Follow Sky News on WhatsApp<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News<\/p>\n

Tap here<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Ms Forbes went on to thank all those who have been in touch since Monday, urging her to enter the race.<\/p>\n

She added: “I recognise many people might be disappointed that I will not be contesting the position of leader at this time.<\/p>\n

“To those people I say this – you can be certain that delivering on the priorities for which we have, together, advocated in recent years has been at the heart of today’s decision.<\/p>\n

“It is now clear from this morning’s statement that in John Swinney we have someone who not only understands that need for reform, but has now committed to delivering it.<\/p>\n

“I look forward to playing my role in making that happen.”<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player<\/p>\n


\n \"John
\n
\n 2:00<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Mr Swinney announcing his bid on Thursday<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nominations for SNP leader close at noon on Monday 6 May.<\/p>\n

Prospective candidates will have to gain the support of 100 members from 20 different SNP branches to qualify for the contest.<\/p>\n

Any potential ballot will then open at 12pm on Monday 13 May and will close at noon on Monday 27 May.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kate Forbes has announced she is not entering the race to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister. The former finance secretary had been tipped as a potential frontrunner after narrowly failing to beat Mr Yousaf in last year’s leadership election to replace then first minister Nicola Sturgeon. The search is currently […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/e3.365dm.com\/24\/05\/768x432\/skynews-snp-john-swinney-scotland_6540407.jpg?20240502120149","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[603],"tags":[21973,17552,4499,2122,2124,1593,3692,8271,17431,4356,17553],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41144"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41144"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41146,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41144\/revisions\/41146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}