Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes is keeping her cards close to her chest this week as another SNP leadership contest swings into action.
The former finance secretary is considered one of the frontrunners to take over from Humza Yousef following his resignation on Monday.
The Lochaber Times believes Ms Forbes is considering her position and that she hasn’t ruled out standing but had no official confirmation of this at the time of going to print.
Also in the running, former party leader John Swinney said that he was giving “very careful consideration” to standing, while health secretary Neil Gray is also a potential candidate.
Speaking about Mr Yousaf’s departure this week, Ms Forbes said: “Anyone who has ever spoken to Humza Yousaf will know that he was a First Minister who clearly cared deeply and passionately about Scotland, and politically he tried to do the right thing.
“He found himself in a difficult job in trying circumstances.
“Few of us will ever forget how he handled the Gaza crisis with statesmanlike authority as well as human compassion.
“Humza is an honourable man and I wish him and Nadia well with their impending new arrival in the summer.”
Kate has been a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch constituency since the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.
In 2020 she became Scotland’s first female finance secretary.
On the announcement of Nicola Sturgeon’s intention to resign as SNP leader and First Minister in March 2023, Ms Forbes announced her candidacy for leader but lost to Humza Yousaf, taking 47.9 per cent of the vote to his 52.1 per cent in the final ballot. She subsequently left government to sit on the SNP backbenches.
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