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Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon have been warned not to take part in the SNP leadership race as Scotland’s former first ministers cast a shadow over the race to replace Humza Yousaf.
Ms Sturgeon has been accused of plotting to “coronate” John Swinney, while Mr Salmond, leader of the pro-Leave Alba party, should stop “interfering” in the SNP election. It is said that
It comes as Mr Siwiny and Kate Forbes emerge as the only front-runners to replace Mr Yousaf, who resigned as SNP leader and first minister on Monday after his decision to scrap a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens backfired. This is in response to what happened.
Mr Forbes hinted that he was keen to take on Mr Swinney, claiming there was a “growing support” for her but needed more time to make a decision.
“I’m not going to exclude myself,” said the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who won 48% of the SNP membership vote to Mr Yousaf’s 52% in last year’s leadership election.
Asked if he would like to put himself above party members again, Mr Forbes told Sky News: “I don’t think so. That was evident in the last contest. ”
Mr Swinney, who led the party from 2002 to 2004, has not yet announced whether he will run. However, a number of party leaders have already thrown their support behind him, including SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and education secretary Jenny Gills.
Mr Swinney suggested he was considering standing as Mr Yousaf because he left the SNP in a worse state than under Mr Sturgeon.
He told reporters that the party was in an “even more difficult position than it was 12 months ago” and that if he ran he would be doing a disservice to “so many people who have contacted me asking me to stand”. He said it would be. He is not seriously thinking about becoming a leader.
Siwiny has a much better chance of winning support from the left-wing Scottish Greens than Mr Forbes, a socially conservative Christian who has previously said he would not vote to legalize same-sex marriage. It is thought that there is.
But Ms Forbes’ supporters say she will have easier access to other parties, including the Scottish Conservatives and Alba MSP Ash Regan, than Ms Siwiny. Says.
There have been no talks between the two sides yet, but I Ms Forbes is said to be still considering whether she can win the competition, which will be decided by SNP members.
People close to her say she is seriously considering running but may be open to a deal with Mr Swinney if she is offered a senior role in the Scottish Government.
“She’s taking input from her constituents, but she’s got a lot of support from members of Congress, the public and the parliamentary group. There may be some discussions. [with Mr Swinney] To come. That’s up to Kate.”
A Holyrood source said: I Ms Sturgeon said she had been involved, along with SNP senior minister Angus Robertson and deputy first minister Shona Robison, in encouraging Mr Shiwinney to stand for the leadership.
Mr Salmond on Tuesday called on Mr Yousaf’s successor to “completely rule out” any further agreement with the Scottish Greens and opposed the idea of a coronation for Siwini.
Alba general secretary Chris McElheny said: I Mr Siwiny will be seen as a “continuation sturgeon” who will give the Greens too much influence.
Mr McElhenney claimed Mr Swinney’s attempted coronation was “part of a conspiracy” by Ms Sturgeon and those around her. “Nobody can work with Kate.” [Forbes]“This is part of the John Swinney Anointing Project.”
But sources close to Ms Sturgeon denied the claims. “Needless to say, this is complete garbage.”
Another SNP source said: I Mr Salmond called for an end to interference in the party’s leadership process. “A deal with Alba will never work out. He should stop interfering and stay out of the decisions the SNP makes.”
Andy Mavor, former head of media for the Scottish Conservatives, said Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond’s political influence was “in constant decline”.
The co-sponsor of Holyrood information source On the podcast: “Sturgeon and Swinney are very close, but I think it’s clear to Swinney that Sturgeon is involved.” [in his leadership bid] It’s toxic to him. ”
Macivar added: “Dare I say, Salmond enjoyed being in the headlines. He thought he had a chance to be relevant again. In Kate Forbes’ case, Ash Regan’s vote may still be meaningful. You could argue that Alba’s vote is irrelevant if things are going in John Swinney’s favor.
A Scottish Labor source said if the SNP decided to coronate Mr Swinney it would be “like taking a Volvo 240 estate out of storage – it’s safe and has high mileage but it won’t excite anyone”. Ta.
“Really, the SNP should go electric, acknowledge that independence has been off the table since the Supreme Court rejected Sturgeon, and change the whole engine, not just the gears,” the source added.
Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar is believed to have privately believed during the last leadership election that it would be easier to defeat Mr Forbes than Mr Yousaf because the party was on the left and could outmaneuver Mr Forbes. .
Candidates must submit their declaration by noon on Monday, May 6th. The minority National Party government run by Mr Yousaf until his successor takes office still faces a vote of no confidence tabled by Scottish Labor on Wednesday. However, the move is expected to fail after the Scottish Greens said they would not vote against the government.