As Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon prepares to step down from her role after the next Scottish elections in May 2022, the race to succeed her has begun in earnest.
Sturgeon, who has been the SNP leader since 2014, has led the party through a tumultuous period, including the Brexit referendum and the ongoing push for Scottish independence. Whoever takes over from her will inherit a party that is both powerful and deeply divided.
The front-runner in the race is currently Finance Secretary Kate Forbes. At just 31 years old, Forbes has impressed many with her handling of the Scottish government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as her work on the country’s finances. She is seen as a unifying figure within the party, and has already gained the support of many senior SNP members.
However, Forbes is likely to face competition from several other high-profile SNP politicians. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has also been tipped as a potential successor, as has Constitution Secretary Michael Russell. Both are experienced politicians who have held a number of senior roles within the SNP.
Other names being mentioned in the media include former MP Joanna Cherry, who is seen as a more radical figure within the party, and Angus Robertson, who previously served as the SNP’s deputy leader.
Whoever takes over from Sturgeon will have a number of challenges to contend with. One of the biggest will be managing the ongoing push for Scottish independence, which remains a hugely divisive issue in Scottish politics. While Sturgeon has been a vocal advocate for independence, she has also been criticized for failing to provide a clear plan for how an independent Scotland would function.
The new SNP leader will also need to work to heal the divisions within the party. In recent years, the SNP has been plagued by infighting between various factions, particularly over the issue of independence. The new leader will need to find a way to bring these factions together and present a united front.
Finally, the new leader will need to build on the SNP’s recent successes. In the 2019 UK General Election, the party won 48 out of 59 Scottish seats, and in the most recent Scottish Parliament election in 2016, the SNP won a majority of seats. However, with the party’s popularity potentially waning due to fatigue with the independence issue, the new leader will need to find a way to maintain the SNP’s dominance in Scottish politics.
In conclusion, the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP is well underway. The party’s next leader will face a number of challenges, including managing the push for Scottish independence, healing internal divisions, and maintaining the party’s dominance in Scottish politics. While Finance Secretary Kate Forbes is currently the front-runner, there are several other high-profile candidates in the running, and it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious.
