Imminent departure of Kate Forbes from Scottish politics opens up path for potential SNP leadership competitors
In a surprising turn of events, Kate Forbes, Scotland's Deputy First Minister, has announced her decision to step down ahead of the May 2026 Holyrood elections [1]. This announcement has set the stage for a significant leadership election within the Scottish National Party (SNP), with Màiri McAllan MSP and Stephen Flynn MP emerging as the top contenders [3][5].
Forbes, who narrowly lost the previous leadership contest to Humza Yousaf in 2023, was seen as a key leadership candidate. However, her departure removes a significant competitor, effectively clearing the way for others [3][5]. Forbes, who is known for her socially and fiscally conservative stance within the SNP, faced internal party pressures and was considered a threat to more left-leaning rivals such as McAllan and Flynn [2].
McAllan, the cabinet secretary for housing, and Flynn, the charismatic leader of the SNP in Westminster, are now seen as the frontrunners in the race for the SNP leadership [3]. If McAllan wants to lead the Scottish government, she will have to get past Flynn in a potential leadership challenge [4]. Similarly, veteran John Swinney is expected to face a leadership challenge either before or soon after the election, regardless of the result [1].
The swift and precipitous collapse of Labour's short-lived popularity has again opened the way for the SNP to emerge once more as the biggest party at Holyrood. The party's immediate priority is securing a return to lead the Scottish government in next May's elections [6]. Forbes, who was first elected in 2016 and was elevated by Nicola Sturgeon to cabinet secretary for finance in 2020, will not participate in the election due to personal reasons [4].
Forbes's departure has stirred fears among Scotland's business community that the SNP could lurch further to the left [1]. Forbes was widely viewed as the most pro-business member of the Scottish government [2]. Her home is an eight-hour return drive from Edinburgh, and her vast highlands constituency takes five hours to cross from end-to-end [6]. Forbes famously delivered a budget with just a few hours notice after her predecessor quit in a scandal over inappropriate messages sent to a teenager [6].
Sources:
- BBC News
- The Scotsman
- The Guardian
- The Times
- The National
- The Herald
- The upcoming SNP leadership election, triggered by Kate Forbes's departure, is expected to be shaped by policy-and-legislation agendas, as the frontrunners Màiri McAllan and Stephen Flynn aim to appeal to various factions within the party, including those seeking a more socially and fiscally conservative approach and those leaning towards a more left-leaning stance.
- The general-news landscape is abuzz with discussions about the potential impact of the SNP leadership election on policy-and-legislation, particularly in light of Forbes's departure, with concerns emerging about her pro-business stance and its implications for Scotland's business community.
