Humza Yousaf elected new SNP leader beating Kate Forbes by 52% to 48% on second preferences– UK politics live

Key events

SNP leadership election results in full

Lorna Finn, the national secretary, read out the results.

She said the electorate was 72,169. And 50,494 people voted, meaning there was a turnout of 70%.

There were three spoilt ballot papers.

First ballot results

Ash Regan: 5,599 – 11.1%

Kate Forbes: 20,559 – 40.7%

Humza Yousaf: 24,336 – 48.2%

Second ballot results

Kate Forbes: 23,890 – 47.9%

Humza Yousaf: 26,052 – 52.1%

Humza Yousaf elected new SNP leader, and prospective next Scottish first minster

Humza Yousaf has been elected SNP leader, beating Kate Forbes with second preferences by 52% to 48%.

He is now certain to be next Scottish first minister too, although that has to be confirmed by MSPs.

Voting closes in SNP leadership contest

Voting has closed in the race for the SNP leadership, with Nicola Sturgeon’s replacement to be announced within the next two hours, PA Media reports. PA says:

Health secretary Humza Yousaf, finance secretary Kate Forbes and former community safety minister Ash Regan have taken part in about 16 hustings as they vied for the top job.

The first minister announced in February that she would resign after more than eight years in the job once her successor had been chosen.

SNP members had until noon on Monday to cast their ballots.

The fate of the three candidates is set to be revealed at about 2pm on Monday at the BT Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh.

A vote in Holyrood will follow on Tuesday to select the next first minister.