The rise and rise of the SNP’s Kate Forbes

Few ministers are tested as abruptly as Kate Forbes has been. The SNP’s junior finance minister was promoted to the Scottish cabinet ten days ago and three weeks after Derek Mackay’s resignation forced her to deliver the budget with hours’ notice. Nicola Sturgeon’s minority government can typically rely on the dutiful support of the nationalist Scottish Greens but, come budget time, the finance secretary has to crack out the national credit card and buy the swampies off.

Given the circumstances of Mackay’s departure and Forbes’ sudden elevation aged just 29, the Scottish government was more vulnerable than ever. Green leader Patrick Harvie could have produced a wish list and come away with his biggest ever budget haul. The SNP couldn’t afford a budget stalemate and many ministers in Forbes’ position would have showered the Greens in cash to get them onside. Instead, she has agreed to £95m in additional funds for councils, £45m for low-carbon projects and £18m for the police.