HUMZA Yousaf has announced his resignation and the race to replace him has already begun.
Rumours were swirling at Holyrood late last week as Yousaf found himself embroiled in crisis after ending the governing Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens, with some MSPs reportedly shifting into campaign mode.
Late on Thursday, reports said Yousaf was considering his position as he faced losing a no-confidence vote, but senior government sources insisted to The National that he was not thinking about resigning and would “come out fighting".
However, late on Sunday night fresh reports broke saying Yousaf had decided that he could not successfully run a minority government and would step down when a successor is elected. The National has taken a look at who are the early favourites in the SNP leadership race.
Here are the early favourites to replace Humza Yousaf as SNP leader:
Kate Forbes
A former finance secretary with a reputation for being a capable minister and personable leader, Forbes is perhaps considered the frontrunner in the race to take over at the head of the SNP.
She came second to Yousaf in the 2023 SNP leadership election, which was run in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation. She won 48% of the membership vote to Yousaf’s 52%, once third-place contender Ash Regan was eliminated.
Forbes is seen as representing a more conservative – fiscally and socially – side of the SNP than Yousaf.
Jenny Gilruth
The current Education Secretary, Gilruth was the first MSP to go on leadership manoeuvres after Yousaf’s plunged into crisis with the ending of the Bute House Agreement – if Holyrood rumours are to be believed.
Gilruth also served in more junior ministerial roles in Nicola Sturgeon’s government, holding culture and then transport portfolios, and is also considered a competent minister.
She is married to Kezia Dugdale, the former leader of Scottish Labour.
Mairi McAllan
The Energy Secretary (as well as Wellbeing Economy and Net Zero), McAllan is widely seen as a future SNP leader.
However, McAllan, a former lawyer, is due to have her first child in July and she is expected to take maternity leave from her role as a government minister until early 2025.
It seems likely that McAllan will wait this leadership race out.
Stephen Flynn
There are rumours that Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, fancies his chances of taking control of the entire party. However, he is an MP, not an MSP.
Not having a seat in the Scottish Parliament means he could not become first minister, a major stumbling block for any prospective SNP leader, and one which means Flynn may not throw his hat into the ring for leadership just yet.
Neil Gray
A close ally of Humza Yousaf, Gray is Health Secretary. He took on a government role after ditching his Westminster seat and running to become an MSP in the 2021 Holyrood elections.
Whether Gray will look to go for the leadership is in question, despite whispers saying his name in the Scottish Parliament corridors.
John Swinney
At first considered a real outsider in terms of actually taking over from Yousaf, there had been whispers of Swinney stepping in as a caretaker first minister.
A former deputy first minister under Nicola Sturgeon, and a former SNP leader himself, Swinney is seen as a safe pair of hands who is respected across the political spectrum.
However, on Monday those rumours became more openly spoken about, and Swinney said he was giving "very active consideration" to running to take over.
Swinney formerly led the SNP from 2000 to 2004.
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