Neither John Swinney nor Kate Forbes have announced their intention to run
Secret talks have taken place between the two favorites to replace Humza Yousaf in the post Scotland's first minister comes amid claims that neither wants to “capture the poisoned chalice”.
John Swinney and Kate Forbes met in the Scottish Parliament to discuss whether they could strike a deal that could avoid a bitter SNP leadership battle.
The Scottish Sun reported that Ms Forbes ” does not rule out” accepting a high-ranking post in the Swinney government. However, no agreement was reached.
She confirmed that the meeting took place, but insisted that it was just “politeness.” The former finance minister also hinted that she would finally reveal on Thursday whether she had decided to run, signaling that the public would know “soon”.
Just hours after Mr Yousaf resigned last Monday, Mr Swinney became president. early leader as he received a string of endorsements from the SNP establishment and potential leadership rivals.
But speaking on Wednesday afternoon, the former Deputy First Minister remained coy and said he “won't rush into making decisions that affect my loved ones.”
“Who will blink first?”
The deadline for nominations to be considered is at noon next Monday, and on Wednesday evening the Scottish National Party announced that the campaign would be very short if the competition were to go ahead. Polling opens on May 13 and closes two weeks later on May 27.
Senior Scottish National Party insiders expressed surprise that neither Mr Swinney nor Ms Forbes stood as candidates and instead they appeared to be engaged in a political “eyeball contest” to see who could blink first.
Labor sources suggested Mr Swinney had done little more than agree to consider the role if he was crowned Mr Yousaf's successor, and had chickened out at the prospect of competing with Ms Forbes.
Her spokesman said: “We can confirm Kate spoke to John yesterday. It was a purely informal meeting. Kate continues to consider whether to run and is grateful for the growing support.”
She later told reporters at Holyrood: “At the last competition I spoke to each of the candidates before I made the announcement and wanted to wish them all the best, I wanted to do them the courtesy of telling them what I was thinking. And I think that's a good position to be in this contest.
“Now I know what you really want to know is whether I'm running or not. And we hope you find out soon.”
She also rejected the notion that she would not have enough support among her MSP colleagues to become leader, with some citing views against same-sex marriage and children born within marriage.
Ms Forbes said she “fundamentally disagreed” that she would lose to Mr Swinney and noted that “in the last contest I had 50 per cent member support.”
But she was urged to reach an agreement. allowing Swinney's coronation to avert another bitter leadership battle following her disagreement with Mr Yousaf last year.
It is understood that after the meeting “a deal was not ruled out” but allies claimed Mr Swinney was another candidate from “[Nicola] Sturgeon's succession” and “yesterday's man”.
He was the SNP. Leader of the party between 2000 and 2004, but was forced to resign due to the disastrous results of the European elections for the party. Ms Forbes' supporters also argue that Scottish National Party members deserve a choice of leader, not a backroom deal.
'Putting a Band-Aid on a Gaping Wound'
Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Tories, said: “It is no surprise that the Scottish National Party (SNP) is desperate to find a dark undertaking to avoid another brutal and bloody leadership contest.”
“It's only been two days since then.” since Humza Yousaf resigned. , and we've already seen supporters of John Swinney and Kate Forbes publicly tear off another candidate's clothes.
“Even if they agree to a deal, it will be like putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound when it comes to the bitter split within the Scottish National Party.”
Speaking in the debate before the vote of no confidence in the Scottish Government, he said that Mr Swinney and Ms Forbes were “in no rush to grasp the poisoned chalice to lead the Scottish National Party” and said: “They don't want to do that.” .
Kate Forbes (above, second from left) and John Swinney (below, second from right) during the debate on the motion of no confidence in the Scottish government on Wednesday. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA
Mr Swinney told reporters he needed “time and space”, adding: “I'm in no rush and I'm sure you have the patience of all the world to wait for me.”< /p>
He said, “As I told you yesterday, I have to be very careful about my family circumstances to not rush into decisions that affect my loved ones, and this is a big step for me.”
His wife Elizabeth Quigley has multiple sclerosis and they have a 13-year-old son, Matthew.
Ms Forbes rejected suggestions that she did not have enough support among her MSP colleagues to become a leader, after some cited her views on same-sex marriage and children out of wedlock.
She said she “fundamentally disagrees.” that she would lose to Mr. Swinney, and noted that “in the last competition, I received 50 percent [of] member support.”
“Positive competition”
Ms Sturgeon was in Holyrood to take part in the no-confidence motion after the Scottish National Party imposed a three-line whip on the attendance of its MPs. He was defeated by 70 votes to 58.
The former First Minister said: “I will wait to see who turns up, who the candidates are and then, like everyone else in the Scottish National Party, I will make my own decision . I'm not going to tell other members how to vote.
“I would say I hope the competition is positive. I hope he is forward-thinking and focused on what the Scottish National Party needs to do to continue its successful run of electoral victories.”
She denies working behind the scenes to appoint Mr Swinney, adding : “I've spent almost my entire life in the middle of political drama, and I actually really enjoy not being in the middle of political drama anymore.”
Another SNP leader has warned that a Swinney government would mean a “de facto” power-sharing deal with the Greens would remain in place as he would rely on their support Fergus Ewing, a former Scottish cabinet minister and Forbes supporter, said: “People are appalled that a fringe party of extremists should continue to have such power and influence, albeit because the Scottish National Party leadership has decided to concede her to them.”
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