With Humza Yousaf stepping down as Scotland’s first minister and SNP leader, here are some of the potential candidates that could throw their hat into the ring to take the top job.
Humza Yousaf has announced he is standing down as Scotland’s first minister and SNP leader.
Here are some of the potential contenders who could step up to lead the country.
Kate Forbes narrowly lost out to Mr Yousaf in last year’s SNP leadership contest.
The former finance secretary faced backlash during her campaign after admitting she would have voted against gay marriage in Scotland when it was made legal a decade ago.
The Free Church of Scotland member also told Sky News that having children out of marriage is “wrong” and something she would “seek to avoid”.
But the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch insisted: “In a free society you can do whatever you want.”
Ms. Forbes argued that “continuation alone is not enough.”
After losing 48% to 52% to Mr Yousaf, she said: “If we want to continue to win elections, we must continue to listen and maintain trust.” Ms Forbes said that she would continue to take on the role of provincial minister. I declined. , which at the time was considered a relegation.
She was one of the few SNP ministers not to delete her WhatsApp messages during the coronavirus pandemic, although her views on social issues remain unpopular with some of her MSP colleagues.
Ms Forbes said she would face opposition from the Scottish Green Party, which had previously denied working with her.
Stephen Flynn
Stephen Flynn will be appointed SNP Westminster leader in December 2022, replacing Ian Blackford.
The Aberdeen South MP has been touted as a future party leadership candidate by MP Joanna Cherry.
Ms Cherry praised his leadership, noting that he was “tolerant” of her dissenting views and committed to addressing divisions within the SNP.
Not being an MSP could affect his chances of becoming Holyrood Chancellor.
Neil Gray
Former journalist Neil Gray is Holyrood’s health secretary. He was promoted to the role in February after Michael Matheson resigned following the scandal surrounding the £11,000 iPad data roaming bill.
Mr Gray, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, served as an MP from 2015 to 2021 before moving from Westminster to Holyrood.
Mr Gray, who was Mr Yousaf’s campaign chief in the SNP leadership race, previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Welfare, Fair Work and Energy, and before that as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. .
Jenny Gilruth
Holyrood Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth is a former modern studies teacher who is married to former Scottish Labor leader Kezia Dugdale.
The SNP MP for Midfife and Glenrothes was a junior minister in Nicola Sturgeon’s government.
She was promoted from Transport Minister to Education and Skills Cabinet Secretary after Mr Yousaf took office in March 2023.
Ms Gilruth is considered ambitious, but she was recently criticized by Scotland’s largest teachers’ union for not reading her damning report into violence in Aberdeen schools.
Shona Robison
Shona Robison could only imagine her chances as Scottish leader after serving as deputy first minister under Mr Yousaf.
The Treasurer, Ms Robison, has been her MSP for Dundee City East since 2003 and is a close friend of former First Minister Ms Sturgeon.
She was previously Health Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, where she supported Holyrood’s efforts to pass the controversial Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Mr Robison could face difficulties in retaining his position as the SNP looks to replace him at the top of the party and make a fresh start following the collapse of the Butehouse agreement.
JOHN SWINNEY
John Swinney stood down as deputy first minister following Ms Sturgeon’s shock resignation in 2023.
The former SNP leader, who resigned from that post in 2004 following poor European parliament election results, could be tempted to once again step into the spotlight following his year on the backbenches.
He ruled himself out of the 2023 leadership race, citing that he had to put his young family first.
The MSP for Perthshire North, who was finance secretary under Alex Salmond’s government, has the experience to hold the fort following Mr Yousaf’s departure.
MAIRI MCALLAN
Mairi McCarran is a rising star within the SNP.
The Clydesdale MSP is a special adviser to Ms Sturgeon and currently serves as Minister for Wellbeing, Economy, Net Zero and Energy.
She faced a barrage of criticism earlier this month after announcing the withdrawal of the Scottish Government’s key climate change targets.
At the age of 31, Ms McCarran becomes the youngest first minister.
She is unlikely to run for the top position as she is pregnant with her first child and her maternity leave begins in the summer and is scheduled to run until March 2025.
