Kate Forbes will not be drawn on SNP leadership bid as she praises Sturgeon

MSP Kate Forbes, Finance Secretary. Picture: James Mackenzie.

Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes has refused to be drawn on whether she will make a leadership bid as she praised outgoing First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Currently Ms Forbes is on maternity leave and she has sat in cabinet as the Finance Secretary for almost exactly three years since taking over in dramatic fashion from the disgraced Derek Mackay.

Her rise has been rapid and the bookies now place her as the second favourite after Angus Robertson to succeed Ms Sturgeon about whom she was full of praise.

“I do not think we will see another leader like Nicola Sturgeon,” Ms Forbes said. “She is one of the biggest political figures of the devolution period and I am genuinely surprised by this announcement.

“She led with confidence, with resilience, with distinction, and is someone who has been consistently popular in the polls as UK Prime Ministers have come and gone.

“There is no doubt that leadership over such a prolonged period has a huge personal cost, particularly throughout the unprecedented Covid years, and I have learnt much from her.”

Whether Ms Forbes will throw her hat in the ring remains to be seen but she remains a popular choice and is widely respected for her intelligence and ability to work across the chamber and with the UK government on occasion.

Perhaps crucially she has not been damaged in the bitter political fighting of recent months in the eyes of the electorate and could be seen as someone who while still a fresh face comes to the job with qualifications and experience.

However, given that she has only just given birth to her first child and Ms Sturgeon in her resignation speech reflected on the toll the top job can take it is anyone’s guess what she may or may not choose to do.

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