SNP leadership race 2023

Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes compete for votes in the last SNP leadership contest

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Alison Rowat: They all love Kate Forbes, but what is her future?
Former finance secretary Kate Forbes continues to have a remarkably high profile for someone who failed in her bid to be SNP party leader and Scotland's First Minister. She is everywhere - from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and BBC1's Question Time to The Herald letters page (the political equivalent of finding a star fixed on your dressing room). What is going on?

First Minister Humza Yousaf

First Minister Humza Yousaf

Review of the year

50

Arrested development: The SNP's year from hell

SNP members in Falkirk call for Matheson to resign for role in 'bullying' row

SNP members in Falkirk call for Matheson to resign for role in 'bullying' row

General Election

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SNP members in Falkirk call for Matheson to resign for role in 'bullying' row

SNP leadership contenders Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf

SNP leadership contenders Kate Forbes, Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf

16

SNP leadership contest blew £160k hole in party's finances

Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes

Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes

7

'Never say never' Kate Forbes hints at possible second tilt at SNP leadership

Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes

Ash Regan, Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes

31

Forbes says she 'dodged a bullet' when she lost SNP leadership race

Chris Hanlon and Humza Yousaf

Chris Hanlon and Humza Yousaf

4

Yousaf says he is 'not bothered about' SNP leadership challenge

First Minister Humza Yousaf is set to appear before the Conveners Group at Holyrood on Wednesday

First Minister Humza Yousaf is set to appear before the Conveners Group at Holyrood on Wednesday

15

Alison Rowat: Humza Yousaf set for high noon appraisal at Holyrood

The home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon has been raided as part of an ongoing investigation (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon has been raided as part of an ongoing investigation (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Nicola Sturgeon

Calls for inquiry into time taken by Crown Office to approve Sturgeon search warrant

Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes

Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes

31

Forbes urges her troops to back Yousaf amid SNP crises

SNP MSP Kate Forbes takes the mic during party leadership contest

SNP MSP Kate Forbes takes the mic during party leadership contest

Heard the one about the SNP's Kate Forbes and a new career in comedy?

122

More questions for Yousaf over gay marriage vote and 'unavoidable' meeting

First Minister Humza Yousaf and SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

First Minister Humza Yousaf and SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

House of Commons

33

Alison Rowat: SNP in crisis? You ain't seen nothing yet

Ash Regan has 'sympathy' for calls to rerun SNP leadership contest

Ash Regan has 'sympathy' for calls to rerun SNP leadership contest

7

'I would be ending careers': Ash Regan calls for suspensions over SNP finance probe

Taking away weekends and public holidays the new First Minister has only been in office a handful of days

Taking away weekends and public holidays the new First Minister has only been in office a handful of days

5

Alison Rowat: How soon is too soon for this First Minister to move on?

SNP refuse to say if Peter Murrell's membership has been suspended

SNP refuse to say if Peter Murrell's membership has been suspended

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SNP refuse to say if Peter Murrell's membership has been suspended

SNP MP says there's now a 'very strong argument' to rerun leadership contest

SNP MP says there's now a 'very strong argument' to rerun leadership contest

19

SNP MP says there's now a 'very strong argument' to rerun leadership contest

Liz Lloyd and Nicola Sturgeon

Liz Lloyd and Nicola Sturgeon

7

Tom Gordon: The three gifts that make a great political spindoctor

Scotland's new First Minister was a pupil at Hutchesons'

Scotland's new First Minister was a pupil at Hutchesons'

2

Humza Yousaf: school reports, ripped trousers and his need for speed

Yousaf considering 'pause' on Deposit Return Scheme

Yousaf considering 'pause' on Deposit Return Scheme

Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)

8

Yousaf considering pause on Deposit Return Scheme now that he's in post

Humza Yousaf, former Health Secretary, delivers a statement to the Scottish Parliament

Humza Yousaf, former Health Secretary, delivers a statement to the Scottish Parliament

58

Alison Rowat: Humza is already living down to expectations

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross pictured during the election of the First Minister. Do he and his Labour and Liberal Democrat counterparts need to do better on policy?

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross pictured during the election of the First Minister. Do he and his Labour and Liberal Democrat counterparts need to do better on policy?

Alex Cole-Hamilton

20

High time unionists came up with more than just echo chamber politics

Labour accuses Humza Yousaf of hypocrisy for not calling Holyrood election

Labour accuses Humza Yousaf of hypocrisy for not calling Holyrood election

4

Labour accuses Humza Yousaf of hypocrisy for not calling Holyrood election

Yousaf suffers fountain pen malfunction at swearing-in ceremony

Yousaf suffers fountain pen malfunction at swearing-in ceremony

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Yousaf suffers fountain pen malfunction at swearing-in ceremony

Kate Forbes quits government after Humza Yousaf asks her to take major demotion

Kate Forbes quits government after Humza Yousaf asks her to take major demotion

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Kate Forbes quits government after Humza Yousaf asks her to take major demotion

Yousaf and Greens already at odds over deposit return scheme

Yousaf and Greens already at odds over deposit return scheme

Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)

47

Yousaf and Greens already at odds over deposit return scheme

A&E waits worsen again on Yousaf's last day as Health Secretary

A&E waits worsen again on Yousaf's last day as Health Secretary

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A&E waits worsen again on Yousaf's last day as Health Secretary

Humza Yousaf making his victory speech yesterday

Humza Yousaf making his victory speech yesterday

1

A message to Yousaf: Keep left and you'll do Scotland proud

Humza Yousaf calls for party unity as he narrowly beats Kate Forbes in bitter battle

Humza Yousaf calls for party unity as he narrowly beats Kate Forbes in bitter battle

49

SNP split after Humza Yousaf secures narrow victory over rivals

Tom Gordon: Is it onward and downward for Humza Yousaf?

Tom Gordon: Is it onward and downward for Humza Yousaf?

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Tom Gordon: Is it onwards and downwards for Humza Yousaf?

Humza Yousaf to ask Rishi Sunak for Indyref2 powers

Humza Yousaf to ask Rishi Sunak for Indyref2 powers

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Humza Yousaf to ask Rishi Sunak for Indyref2 powers 'right away'

Nadia El-Nakla is married to Humza Yousaf and they have one daughter together, Amal

Nadia El-Nakla is married to Humza Yousaf and they have one daughter together, Amal

Who is Humza Yousaf's wife Nadia El-Nakla?

Humza Yousaf wins SNP contest to be next First Minister. Photo PA.

Humza Yousaf wins SNP contest to be next First Minister. Photo PA.

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'The greatest privilege and honour of my life' - Humza Yousaf set to be next FM

Humza Yousaf to be new First Minister

Humza Yousaf to be new First Minister

20

Humza Yousaf to be new First Minister

How the world's media reacted to Humza Yousaf's SNP leadership win

How the world's media reacted to Humza Yousaf's SNP leadership win

1

How the world's media reacted to Humza Yousaf's SNP leadership win

Humza Yousaf reacts as his victory is announced. Now it is down to work

Humza Yousaf reacts as his victory is announced. Now it is down to work

22

Neil Mackay: Yousaf faces agonising trials. Only winning an election can save him

The Scottish Parliament will feel like a very different place after today. Will we see a fresh start?

The Scottish Parliament will feel like a very different place after today. Will we see a fresh start?

Nicola Sturgeon

9

Letters: Now is surely the time for Scotland to have a reset

Kate Forbes insists SNP absolutely united' despite Humza Yousaf's narrow victory

Kate Forbes insists SNP absolutely united' despite Humza Yousaf's narrow victory

3

Kate Forbes insists SNP 'absolutely united' despite Humza Yousaf's narrow victory

13

The inside story: How Humza Yousaf secured victory in the SNP leadership contest

Gaffes, God and ghosts: the twists and turns of the brutal SNP leadership race

Gaffes, God and ghosts: the twists and turns of the brutal SNP leadership race

2

Gaffes, God and ghosts: The twists and turns of a brutal SNP leadership race

Gove looks stumped when asked to name Sturgeon's 'biggest achievement'

Gove looks stumped when asked to name Sturgeon's 'biggest achievement'

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Gove looks stumped when asked to name Sturgeon's 'biggest achievement'

Nicola Sturgeon had limitations but opponents would kill for her 'failure'

Nicola Sturgeon had limitations but opponents would kill for her 'failure'

Nicola Sturgeon

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Nicola Sturgeon had limitations but opponents would kill for her 'failure'

Some leaders, including Alex Salmond, have left office promising to return

Some leaders, including Alex Salmond, have left office promising to return

4

WATCH Alison Rowat: Tears or jeers - the best and worst farewells to high office

A Bute House meeting between Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon in July 2019

A Bute House meeting between Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon in July 2019

14

Letters: At the end of the day, Sturgeon and Johnson have a fair bit in common

Harvie warns of impotence of opposition as Greens await new SNP leader

Harvie warns of impotence of opposition as Greens await new SNP leader

47

Harvie warns of impotence of opposition as Greens await new SNP leader

Unspun: the Herald political diary

Unspun: the Herald political diary

Unspun: the Herald political diary

Many could not see or hug loved ones during Covid lockdowns, only to see No 10 breaking the rules

Many could not see or hug loved ones during Covid lockdowns, only to see No 10 breaking the rules

10

Letters: We all suffered while they partied. Shame on them

Nicola Sturgeon during her last First Minister's Questions yesterday

Nicola Sturgeon during her last First Minister's Questions yesterday

22

Letters: Goodbye, First Minister. Maybe now we can get some answers

Section 35: Kate Forbes urges Greens to be 'cognisant' of gender law legal advice

Section 35: Kate Forbes urges Greens to be 'cognisant' of gender law legal advice

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Section 35: Kate Forbes urges Greens to be 'cognisant' of gender law legal advice

Harvie: Greens will quit government if next FM fails to challenge UK gender law veto

Harvie: Greens will quit government if next FM fails to challenge UK gender law veto

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Harvie: Greens will quit government if next FM fails to challenge UK gender law veto

FMQs sketch: Stay classy, Scottish Tories

FMQs sketch: Stay classy, Scottish Tories

2

FMQs sketch: Stay classy, Scottish Tories

Ross and Sturgeon in furious final clash at FMQs

Ross and Sturgeon in furious final clash at FMQs

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Ross and Sturgeon in furious final clash at FMQs

Humza Yousaf launches 'Women's manifesto' in dig at Kate Forbes

Humza Yousaf launches 'Women's manifesto' in dig at Kate Forbes

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Humza Yousaf launches 'Women's manifesto' in dig at Kate Forbes

Many have written off the prospects of both the SNP and the Yes movement in recent times

Many have written off the prospects of both the SNP and the Yes movement in recent times

14

Letters: Reports of the death of the SNP have been greatly exaggerated

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