Hunt begins to find new Scottish first minister following Humza Yousaf's resignation
After Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf announced he's stepping down, the SNP must hold its second leadership contest in barely a year
The SNP leadership race has begun after a day of drama in Scottish politics saw Humza Yousaf announce his resignation as the country’s first minister.
Nominations are now open in the leadership contest, with senior figures throwing their support behind former deputy first minister John Swinney who said he is "actively considering" throwing his hat in the ring.
Meanwhile, a smaller number of the party’s parliamentarians have given their backing to former finance secretary Kate Forbes, who has not yet indicated if she will run.
The SNP’s national secretary announced nominations opened on Monday at 11.59pm and would close next Monday.
Prospective candidates will have to gain the support of 100 members from 20 different SNP branches to qualify for the contest.
Mr Yousaf has said he will stay on as first minister until a successor can be found.
After facing two votes of no confidence at Holyrood, and without the support of the Greens whom he had angered when he terminated the powersharing agreement between the two parties, the first minister decided on Monday his time was up.
It came just 13 months after he took over the post from Nicola Sturgeon - who had been Scotland’s longest serving first minister.
Mr Swinney, a former SNP leader who also served for more than eight years as deputy first minister under Ms Sturgeon, has already said he is giving “very careful consideration” to running after receiving “many, many messages” from colleagues in the party who want him to stand.
Pete Wishart, the long-serving SNP MP, has already described Mr Swinney as being the “runaway favourite to take over the leadership of the party”.
Posting on X, Mr Wishart said: “John Swinney would be an excellent unifier for our country and our party. We should all get behind him if he chooses to run.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth, who had been suggested as a possible successor to Mr Yousaf, said: “John Swinney is the best choice to be Scotland’s first minister & @theSNP leader.
“I will be strongly supporting him if, as I hope, he chooses to run.”
Reports also suggest Health Secretary Neil Gray – a key ally of Mr Yousaf and someone considered a potential leader – was backing Mr Swinney.
Whoever wins the contest will need to be able to win enough votes in Holyrood to be elected First Minister, with the SNP needing just two votes for an overall majority.
The most likely suitors for the SNP would be the Greens – given the pro-independence bent of both parties and the reticence of other parties with the required number of MSPs to work with the party.
The Greens announced last week they would not support the First Minister in a confidence vote in his leadership this week after he scrapped the Bute House Agreement, eventually leading to his decision to step down.
So far, MSPs Annabelle and Fergus Ewing have said they would like to see Ms Forbes have another tilt at the leadership, which MP Joanna Cherry has also said she supports her.
The SNP’s national executive committee (NEC) will meet later this week to decide a timetable for the leadership election.
Whoever is selected will have to win enough support from MSPs in the Scottish Parliament to be voted in as the country’s seventh first minister.
SNP depute leader Keith Brown thanked Mr Yousaf for his “commitment and dedication to the SNP, Scotland and independence”.
Speaking about him, Mr Brown said: “In his time as leader and first minister, he has been resolutely focused on the needs of the people of our country.
“While we prepare to elect our new leader, the SNP will continue to stand up for Scotland and work to build a stronger, fairer, wealthier country where decisions about Scotland are taken in Scotland.”
Have you heard our podcast Talking Politics? Every week Tom, Robert and Anushka dig into the biggest issues dominating the political agenda…