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Scotland’s new first minister, John Swinney, has staked the premiership on Kate Forbes by offering the next most senior job in government to a potential SNP leadership candidate.
Mr Forbes was expected to run against Mr Shiwini following the resignation of Humza Yousaf as leader, but on Wednesday he accepted the role of deputy prime minister and economy secretary.
The 34-year-old socially conservative Christian will now have a “huge say” in shaping SNP policy, and will influence the number of Scottish voters in the general election, party insiders and political experts say. said. I.
Some SNP insiders fear that Mr Forbes will alienate left-wing voters, but it would be a break from policies seen during the recent coalition government between the SNP and the Scottish Greens. Some feel they can win back support from centrists.
Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvey said many people in Scotland would be “concerned” about Mr Forbes’ appointment because of his “quite surprising social conservative views”.
The Highlands MSP, a member of the Free Church of Scotland, ran into trouble during last year’s leadership election when Mr Yousaf said he would vote against legalizing same-sex marriage.
However, Ms Forbes has maintained a strong support base within the SNP and among MSPs and MPs in Holyrood and Westminster.
Mr Swinney has made SNP “unity” central to his pitch to lead the party. He moved to end bad relations between Mr Forbes and SNP leaders by offering him a return to the Cabinet in a private meeting last week.
Following the appointment of the new cabinet, Mr Forbes was questioned alongside Mr Swinney outside Bute House in Edinburgh, where he was asked about the same-sex marriage controversy and his message to the LGBT community.
She said her job as deputy prime minister now was to support Mr Siwiny to “unite the country” and “find a place for agreement”.
Mr Siwiny, who had previously questioned whether it was “appropriate” for someone with his own views on same-sex marriage to lead the party, said: “I think it is important for people in Scotland, whether they are part of the LGBT community or not, to lead the party. He will become prime minister,” he said. ”
SNP MP Douglas Chapman said: I The move to bring Mr Forbes into the fold was “really good news”. Her backer at Forbes said he hoped she could “move the dial” on the SNP’s policy agenda and electoral fortunes. “She has the ability to captivate people not with her rhetoric but with her actions,” he added.
MSP Ivan McKee, another Forbes supporter, said: I He was “delighted” to have her become part of the party hierarchy. He said she could “make a huge contribution to the SNP’s success”. [and] broader independence movement.”
One senior SNP supporter, who supports Swinney, said he hoped the new deputy leader would keep her religious views separate from policy, despite concerns that Ms Forbes might alienate left-wing voters in Scotland. He said he is doing so.
Another SNP Swinney supporter said most were happy that Ms Forbes had taken on such a senior role, saying it meant she had the full support of the government. “John wants to use all his talents at his disposal,” they said. I.
Andy McIver, former head of media for the Scottish Conservatives, said: I: “That would be a big ask. There would have been internal opposition, so this is a big ask for Swinney. She won’t be a trophy deputy prime minister. It’s important that she has a big say. There is no mistake.”
He added: “She, like most of us, is popular with people who like to drive in the center lane. They are disappointed that the Scottish Government is sticking to the left, and from now on, at least –At least– I’m going to look at it again.”
Geoff Aberdein, Alex Salmond’s former chief of staff, said opinion polls showing the SNP trailing Labor in Scotland showed it was “focused”.he said I: “If the SNP wants to keep its seats, it needs to be seen speaking across the country.”
The co-sponsor of holyrood source In the podcast, he added: “I’m sure she will help shape the direction of the government. She will negotiate hard on that.” She will want to change the situation. Otherwise, she will be tied to the latest mediocre government. ”
Mr Swinney met with Rishi Sunak and convened his cabinet hours after formally taking the oath of office at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Secretary Shona Robison believed her role had been reduced to Treasurer and Local Government Secretary. Otherwise, the Cabinet will remain unchanged.
Scottish Labor deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the mini-reshuffle was “uninspiring” and called for another Holyrood election. “This is a continuity cabinet and they cannot be trusted to fix the chaos and instability they have created.”
Mr Harvey warned Mr Siwiny and Mr Forbes not to water down the left-wing policies promoted by the Scottish Greens during the coalition government.
“It is vital that the government does not dilute the commitments it has made over many years when it comes to delivering fairer and more progressive taxation, a just transition from oil and gas, and a complete ban on so-called conversion therapy. ”