Humza Yousaf announced on Tuesday, after being voted in by 71 MSPs as Scotland’s First Minister, that Shona Robison would be his deputy. The long-term friend of Nicola Sturgeon will now help Yousaf decide who he will appoint to his cabinet, a decision that will set the tone for the next year and a half of his leadership.
While earlier it was unclear what Yousaf would offer Kate Forbes, it was on Tuesday evening revealed that Yousaf’s main competitor has been offered the rural affairs portfolio. Rejecting this offer, Forbes has now quit government and will go to the back benches.
Now it has been confirmed that Ivan McKee, Forbes’s original campaign manager at the start of the leadership contest and former business minister, has left the Scottish government after being offered a job that he saw as a demotion.
It would be unwise to forget that almost half of all those members that voted would have preferred Kate Forbes to be their first minister over Yousaf
Did Yousaf anticipate this? Earlier in the day he told journalists that ‘I’ve not spoken to [Forbes] about a final offer yet. I’m going to finalise our cabinet and our government. Of course I would want her to be part of my government.’ But the former finance secretary would be taking a demotion by going to rural affairs, something Yousaf would indeed be aware of. In fact, many senior SNP figures assumed that Forbes would receive a top role in his cabinet to promote the appearance of unity after a particularly fractious leadership race. And the new First Minister’s supporters aren’t all thrilled by this turn of events, with some describing the move as ‘politically flat-footed’.
This decision may leave Yousaf treading dangerous waters. It would be unwise to forget that almost half of all those members that voted would have preferred Kate Forbes to be their first minister over him. Any snub to her will send a signal to these voters that he is not as serious as he made out yesterday about party unity – or their priorities.
It adds insult to injury after an awkward Chamber session on Tuesday afternoon for the runner up in the leadership race. As had been predicted by Yousaf throughout the leadership contest, Forbes’ ‘personal attacks’ have benefited the SNP’s opponents. In making his case for First Minister, Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats (who have four MSPs in Holyrood), said that while most ‘in this chamber will reject my candidacy’, Scotland can’t ‘settle for continuity and mediocrity’. All eyes on Kate Forbes, she remained impassive.
Conservative leader Douglas Ross made a direct reference to Forbes, describing her comments about her colleagues and party as ‘scathing’ – and pointed out that her opponents agreed with her. Forbes tightened her mouth. Labour leader Anas Sarwar cried that ‘more of the same is an acceptance of mediocrity’ and, just to twist the knife in, ‘continuity won’t cut it’. Eyes on her desk, Forbes didn’t look up.
At other points, there seemed a pleasant, conciliatory atmosphere in the Chamber that saw friendly fire exchanged between Yousaf and Sarwar, and the new First Minister and Cole-Hamilton, intimating a degree more cross-party unity in Scottish parliament may be within reach. However, this latest development suggests achieving unity in Yousaf’s own party may not happen any time soon. A source has said that after receiving Yousaf’s offer of rural affairs secretary, Forbes told him ‘where to stick it’. Former MSP Alex Neil has labelled the offer an ‘insult’ and ex-politician Joan McAlpine said ‘it was so obviously a demotion’ and that Forbes had ‘no option but to go’.
Shona Robison has claimed that Forbes rejected the job offer in pursuit of a ‘better work-life balance’. Releasing a statement on Twitter this evening, Forbes says: ‘To the great credit of Humza Yousaf, the first official convo [sic] he had after Monday’s result was with me. He has been respectful, supportive and warm throughout. In whatever capacity I serve, I’ll support him. PS. After five long weeks, I’ll be delighted to see more of my family!’
But what will those members who supported Forbes think? The results of yesterday’s vote revealed just how split the SNP membership is – and how much it is at odds with the party’s senior politicians. With Forbes now leaving government, expect there to be trouble…
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