The first two candidates have declared in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon: Ash Regan and Humza Yousaf. The pair announced their intent in a front-page story for the Sunday Mail titled ‘Battle of the Bill: FM hopefuls go head-to-head on gender reform’. That focus reflects Regan’s major claim to fame as the only minister to resign over Sturgeon’s trans reforms back in October. In so doing, she became the first minister within the SNP to resign over government policy in 15 years. That is a testament to how united the party has been on most policy planks and suggests that the Gender Recognition Reform Bill will probably be one of the few public points of contention in this contest. Yousaf, the incumbent Scottish health secretary, is much more of a continuity candidate, with Stephen Daisley noting how his views on the constitution and gender identity are indistinguishable from Sturgeon’s.
The favourites to succeed Sturgeon are Kate Forbes and Angus Robertson, who are yet to rule themselves in or out
Neither seem likely at this early stage to be the First Minister’s most obvious successor.
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