Michael Simmons Michael Simmons

Scotland will have a new leader on 27 March

Nicola Sturgeon (Credit: Getty images)

So now we know: Scotland will get its new leader on 27 March. The rules that will determine how Sturgeon’s successor – and Scotland’s sixth First Minister – will be chosen, were thrashed out by the party’s National Executive Committee on Thursday night.

Nominations are now open and will close a week today. The ballot will then open to members on 13 March followed by a fortnight of voting. The election will take just over five weeks – half the length of the SNP’s last contested election when Alex Salmond returned to power in 2004. Candidates will need to win the backing of 100 members from at least 20 branches in order to make it onto the ballot.

Last night the NEC also postponed the ‘special democracy conference’ where it was set to rubber stamp Sturgeon’s plan for a ‘de facto’ indyref at the next UK general election.

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