Is Kate Forbes undermining Humza Yousaf already?

It’s less than a week since Humza Yousaf triumphed in the SNP leadership election by less than 2,500 votes and already his tactical wizardry is bearing fruit. Yousaf’s first decision on taking at Bute House was to humiliate Kate Forbes, the woman who took on and almost defeated the entire party machine, by offering her the job of Rural Affairs – a significant demotion from Finance Secretary. She instead quit the government with her replacement, Shona Robison, rubbing salt in the wound by suggesting Forbes told Yousaf that she wanted to spend more time with her family.

Such suggestions have clearly irked Forbes, who has come out fighting in an interview with the Holyrood Sources podcast. She said she had wanted to remain as Finance Secretary – a job she ‘absolutely loved and could do well’ – and noted drily that she waved ‘goodbye’ to a better work-life balance the moment she launched her campaign to be leader.