Why Humza Yousaf should make Kate Forbes his deputy

Five weeks ago, Kate Forbes’ leadership campaign looked to be dead and buried. She had set her campaign on fire, Scottish political commentators said, by launching her socially conservative views on gay marriage on the nation. Today, despite the widespread opprobrium by her party colleagues, nearly half of the SNP membership voted for her to be their leader, and the country’s First Minister. Over half, though, voted for Humza Yousaf, and tomorrow he will be elected as Scotland’s First Minister. What then?

Perhaps Yousaf can use the closeness of this result to his advantage. The so-called ‘best of both worlds’ is much sought after in politics and this may now be available to him. He has been elected in the knowledge that nearly half of his party wanted a radical departure from the leftist consensus that has characterised the Nicola Sturgeon era – the very agenda he has pledged to continue. Instead, 48 per cent of voting members voted for a focus on economic growth and reform of the public services.