Kate Forbes claims ‘groundswell of support’ for her among SNP members
Kate Forbes, the SNP MSP, is pictured today arriving at Holyrood – Jeff J Mitchell /Getty Images Europe
Kate Forbes said she believed there is a “groundswell of support” for her among SNP members as she publicly confirmed for the first time she is considering standing in the race to replace Humza Yousaf as party leader.
The former finance secretary, who finished second to Mr Yousaf at last year’s leadership contest, said it was “still early days”.
She told reporters at Holyrood this afternoon: “We’ll obviously be considering things over the next few hours and so on – nobody’s declared yet, so I think we do still have a bit of time.”
Asked if she was tempted to run, she said: “I think for me it’s clear I have a groundswell of support amongst the party. That was clear from the last contest and clearly we need to weigh up what is in the best interests of the party, the country and my family.”
John Swinney, the former deputy first minister, has said he is considering a bid for the top job. He told reporters today that he was putting a “great deal of thought” into whether to stand. Nominations are now open and will close at noon on May 6.
You can follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section here.
04:00 PM BST
That is all for today…
Thank you for joining me for today’s politics live blog.
I will be back tomorrow morning.
03:38 PM BST
Sunak joins Cleverly in press-ups challenge – but only manages 20
Rishi Sunak joined James Cleverly in his challenge to do 100 press-ups a day for charity – but the Prime Minister only managed to do 20.
The Home Secretary was joined by Mr Sunak and Nova, the Prime Minister’s dog, for the final day of his challenge in the gardens of Downing Street.
Mr Cleverly has done 100 press-ups each day of April for Cancer Research, after his wife Susie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and finished treatment last year.
The Prime Minister cautioned his Cabinet minister that he had “already been for a run”, which he said “has got to be worth, I don’t know, 20 press-ups?”
You can read the full story here.
03:21 PM BST
Khan has 22 point poll lead over Hall ahead of London mayoral election
Sadiq Khan has a 22 point poll lead over Susan Hall ahead of the London mayoral election on May 2, according to a new YouGov survey.
The poll, conducted between April 24-30, put the Labour incumbent on 47 per cent and his Tory challenger on 25 per cent.
The results were similar to a poll YouGov conducted in mid-April, when Mr Khan was on 46 per cent and Ms Hall was on 27 per cent.
03:16 PM BST
Starmer repeats Labour’s demand for early Holyrood election
Sir Keir Starmer has repeated Labour’s call for an early Holyrood election.
Speaking at trade union Usdaw’s annual conference in Blackpool, the Labour leader said: “You’ve had chaos and unelected leaders in Westminster and now you’ve got chaos and unelected leaders in Scotland.
“You’ve got discussions on the airwaves today about what direction the new leader of the SNP might take Scotland in. Well I think the people of Scotland should have a vote on that.”
03:12 PM BST
Grassroots Tories will fight any proposal to stop members selecting party leader
A Conservative grassroots organisation has criticised a proposal to strip party members of their ability to pick leaders while the Tories are in government, saying “democracy matters”.
You can read the full story here.
03:01 PM BST
Scrapping National Insurance was ruled out by Nigel Lawson, memo shows
Nigel Lawson, the former Conservative chancellor, rejected merging income tax and National Insurance over fears pensioners would miss out, a newly surfaced memo has revealed.
Lord Lawson told Margaret Thatcher in a “secret” policy note in 1986 that the move would “create many losers, especially among the elderly”, according to the document.
The memo resurfaced via the Labour Party, which is focussing its political fire on Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt’s ambition to end so-called “double taxation” as Thursday’s local elections loom.
You can read the full story here.
02:46 PM BST
Swinney putting a ‘great deal of thought’ into whether to stand
John Swinney told reporters at Holyrood this afternoon that he was putting a “great deal of thought” into whether to put himself forward to be the next leader of the SNP.
The former deputy first minister said: “I’ve got a lot to think about. I have a lot of personal circumstances to think about to make sure that it would be the right decision for my family to do this.
“So I’m giving that all a great deal of thought to make sure I come to the right decision for my family, my party, and my country.”
Pressed on claims that he was “yesterday’s man”, Mr Swinney said: “Well, I think we’re perhaps getting a little bit ahead of ourselves and I also think that people have always got a contribution to make.”
John Swinney (right), the former deputy first minister of Scotland, is pictured this afternoon at Holyrood in Edinburgh – Andy Buchanan/AFP
02:38 PM BST
Kate Forbes: John Swinney is ‘much-loved and well-respected’
Kate Forbes said John Swinney is “much-loved and well-respected” across the SNP.
She told Sky News: “I must start by saying that John Swinney has been an extremely competent cabinet member for many years and he obviously is much loved and well respected across the party.
“So that is why I think it is really key now to weigh up and evaluate what is right for the party, what is right for the country, what is right for me and I am sure John Swinney will be doing the same.
“Each of us have choices to make and those choices must be in the best interests of the party.”
02:32 PM BST
Kate Forbes ‘weighing up all options’
Kate Forbes said she was “weighing up all options and haven’t discounted any” after she was asked if she will run to be the next leader of the SNP.
She told Sky News: “It is very early days. I know that there is a groundswell of support for me, certainly from the last contest.
“But clearly we need right now a leader that can unite the party, that can take the party forward into an election.
“So whilst I am weighing up all options and haven’t discounted any, I also need to know that this is the right decision for the party, for the country, apart from for myself.”
02:17 PM BST
Kate Forbes claims ‘groundswell of support’ for her among SNP members
Kate Forbes said she believed there is a “groundswell of support” for her among SNP members but insisted she was still weighing up whether to run for the party leadership.
The former finance secretary, who finished second to Humza Yousaf at last year’s contest, said it was “still early days”.
She told reporters at Holyrood: “We’ll obviously be considering things over the next few hours and so on – nobody’s declared yet, so I think we do still have a bit of time.”
Asked if she was tempted to run, she said: “I think for me it’s clear I have a groundswell of support amongst the party.
“That was clear from the last contest and clearly we need to weigh up what is in the best interests of the party, the country and my family.
“It’s what I’ve said quite consistently over the last year that if I were to run, those would be the conditions.”
02:11 PM BST
Pictured: Yousaf arrives at Holyrood today
Humza Yousaf, the outgoing First Minister of Scotland, is pictured today at Holyrood – Jeff J Mitchell /Getty Images Europe
01:36 PM BST
Why Labour’s motion of no confidence is doomed to fail
The Tories and Liberal Democrats are likely to back Labour’s motion of no confidence in the SNP administration tomorrow.
If they do, that should mean 57 votes in favour.
But the SNP and Scottish Greens will oppose the motion. That should mean 70 votes against.
01:19 PM BST
SNP administration to face no confidence vote at Holyrood tomorrow
A motion of no confidence in the Scottish Government, tabled by the Labour Party, will be debated and voted on tomorrow, Holyrood has confirmed.
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said he will push ahead with his motion, which if passed would require all Scottish ministers to resign, despite Humza Yousaf announcing he is standing down.
However, the Labour motion is doomed to defeat after the Scottish Greens confirmed they would not back it. Holyrood’s smaller pro-independence party had been toying with the idea of supporting it had Mr Yousaf remained in post.
The Scottish Greens have urged Labour MSPs to stop their “game playing”.
12:54 PM BST
Scottish Labour to press ahead with no confidence motion
Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said his party will push ahead with a motion of no confidence in the SNP administration at Holyrood as a “point of principle” despite it seemingly being doomed to defeat.
A similar vote led by the Tories against Humza Yousaf has been cancelled after the First Minister announced his intention to resign.
If the Labour vote was successful, all Scottish ministers would be compelled to stand down.
The Tories and Liberal Democrats back Labour’s motion, but the Greens do not and without their support Labour will not achieve the votes required.
Mr Sarwar said he wanted to use the motion to highlight the need for an early Holyrood election. It could be debated later this week.
12:41 PM BST
Sunak tells press: Holding governments accountable strengthens democracy
A media industry that holds governments to account “strengthens democracy” and “enriches society”, Rishi Sunak said as he emphasised the importance of freedom of speech and a free press in the UK.
Mr Sunak opened the Society of Editors’ 25th anniversary conference today with a keynote speech, in which he admitted journalists and politicians will “always clash” but acknowledged the importance of the media industry in holding power to account.
The Prime Minister said: “When the media holds governments accountable, exposes corruption, and gives new voices a platform, it strengthens democracy. It enriches society. It builds the habits of freedom.”
He added: “I will say that politicians and the media will always clash, it’s a law of nature, as much as night follows day. And I won’t always like what you write, or the questions that you ask, I won’t always agree with what you say, or the way that you represent the Government. But that’s okay.”
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, addresses the Society of Editors’ 25th anniversary conference in London – Yui Mok/PA
12:27 PM BST
Missing migrants earmarked for Rwanda ‘will probably turn up in Ireland’
Migrants earmarked for the first deportation flights to Rwanda will disappear and “probably” end up in Ireland, a former Border Force chief has warned.
The warning by Kevin Saunders, the former chief immigration officer, came as the Home Office admitted it was unable to locate thousands of migrants it intends to start detaining this week ready for deportation to Rwanda.
More than 5,700 migrants have been identified for removal but only 2,145 of them continue to report to the Home Office and can be located for detention, according to a document released on Monday.
The Home Office has insisted that the remaining 3,557 have not necessarily absconded but are not subject to reporting restrictions, which means they cannot be located for detention.
You can read the full story here.
12:15 PM BST
Neil Gray backs John Swinney as next SNP leader
Neil Gray, an SNP MSP and the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, has given his support to John Swinney in the party’s leadership contest.
Mr Swinney has said he is considering putting himself forward to succeed Humza Yousaf but he has not yet declared his candidacy.
Mr Gray is the latest senior SNP figure to back Mr Swinney.
Here is his tweet:
12:04 PM BST
Tory members shouldn’t pick leaders while party is in government, says Graham Brady
Conservative Party members should be stripped of the ability to pick their leader when the Tories are in government, the chairman of the 1922 committee has said.
Speaking to students at Durham University, Sir Graham Brady argued that MPs, rather than the grassroots, should decide the successor if a Conservative prime minister was toppled.
He said it was “crazy” that while MPs determined whether a leader was kept in place through the no confidence letters system, Tory members selected a new prime minister.
The comments, made last Thursday and captured in an audio recording passed to The Telegraph, emerged as some Tory rebels prepare to question Rishi Sunak’s leadership after Thursday’s local elections.
You can read the full story here.
11:50 AM BST
Monty Panesar to stand for George Galloway’s party at general election
Former England cricketer Monty Panesar has confirmed he will stand for George Galloway’s party at the next general election.
You can read the full story here.
11:42 AM BST
Pictured: Rachel Reeves attends Labour election poster launch in North Yorkshire
Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, is pictured today as she attended the launch of a Labour Party election poster campaign in North Yorkshire – Phil Noble/Reuters
11:26 AM BST
Scottish Tories declare ‘job done’ and withdraw no confidence motion in Yousaf
Douglas Ross and the Scottish Tories have formally withdrawn their motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf after he yesterday announced his resignation as First Minister of Scotland.
Mr Ross, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said it was a case of “job done”.
He said in a statement: “I’m delighted that the Scottish Conservative motion of no confidence in Humza Yousaf achieved its purpose by forcing him to resign.
“While, on a personal level, I wish him well for the future, he was a disaster as First Minister and it’s in Scotland’s interests that he goes.
“The next goal for my party is to see off this feuding, failing SNP government and switch the focus away from their independence obsession and on to the public’s real priorities – such as growing the economy and improving Scotland’s ailing public services.
“As it’s job done in terms of Humza Yousaf, there’s no longer any need for us to press ahead with a debate on our no-confidence motion.”
11:20 AM BST
SNP MP warns against ‘rushing to endorse Swinney’
An SNP MP has warned her colleagues against “rushing to endorse John Swinney” as Humza Yousaf’s successor as party leader.
Carol Monaghan, the MP for Glasgow North West, suggested the party should select someone who “worries our opponents”.
She tweeted: “Many of those who are rushing to endorse John Swinney (an incredibly popular person within the SNP) for SNP leadership are the same folks that rushed to endorse Humza.
“How about endorsing someone who has wider appeal and who worries our opponents?”
11:09 AM BST
Pictured: Sunak joins Cleverly in Press-Up Challenge for Cancer Research
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, joins James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, in taking part in the Press-Up Challenge for Cancer Research in the gardens of 10 Downing Street – Simon Dawson /No 10 Downing Street
11:00 AM BST
SNP MP backs John Swinney to be leader
Stewart McDonald, the SNP MP for Glasgow South, has backed John Swinney to be the next leader of the party.
Mr McDonald said Mr Swinney’s “gravitas and seriousness make him head and shoulders above our opponents”.
Here is his tweet:
10:50 AM BST
Europe minister meets Moldovan counterpart to discuss threat from Russia
Nusrat Ghani, the Europe minister, is meeting her Moldovan counterpart in a signal of support for the country amid concerns about Russia’s military aggression in the region.
Moldova shares a border with Ukraine. The Foreign Office has said that Russia has been involved in “subversive meddling” in Moldova, including cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.
Ms Ghani, given the role last month, is meeting Mihai Popșoi, Moldova’s foreign minister, for talks in London. The UK has spent £30 million helping Moldova counter cyber-attacks and corruption.
Ms Ghani said: “Moldova shows how a country, when true to its values and firm in its resolve, can make a significant impact on the world stage.
“Recognising the threat Russia poses to the global order, you have been active and steadfast in defending international law. As we continue to address threats to our security, stability and prosperity, the UK will stand with you every step along the way.”
10:32 AM BST
Risk of Scottish independence pushed back to 2030s, says Lord Hague
The risk of Scottish independence has been pushed back to the next decade because of the political situation in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom, Lord Hague has suggested.
The former leader of the Conservative Party said there could be a “resurgence of Scottish nationalism” should Labour win power at Westminster and at Holyrood and then make a mess of it.
It was suggested to Lord Hague that Scottish independence now appeared politically far away because of the SNP’s struggles.
He told Times Radio: “It has gone back. You would have thought a couple of years ago that there was a serious risk of Scottish independence, of the break up of the UK, in this decade, in the 2020s.
“Now I think you would have to say well, if that risk exists it is in the 2030s. But it has not gone away… and if you go forward a few years, if we do have a Labour government at Westminster and then a Labour government in Scotland… and then they do badly, well then they have got nowhere to hide and you could see a resurgence of Scottish nationalism.
“So, it would be far too early to write off Scottish nationalism at the moment.”
10:07 AM BST
Lord Hague: SNP has ‘real stench’ of a party in power for too long
Lord Hague claimed the SNP was coming to the end of its time in power in Scotland.
The former Tory leader said the SNP is “coming to the end of a cycle” and he believed there is a “real stench” of a party which has been in power for too long as he responded to the resignation of Humza Yousaf.
Asked if he detected the “whiff” of a party at the end of its run in power, Lord Hague told Times Radio: “Oh yeah, there is more than a whiff of that. There is a real stench of that, I think.
“You can definitely see that after 17 years and they are still trying to blame everybody else for that… 17 years now they have had all that devolution, the power to set their own tax rates, to determine their own spending priorities and so on.
“And health and education are worse than they are in England after all of that. So… that is the main point here, that sort of bad record.
“They are coming to the end of a cycle. But the key question will be can they be replaced in a four party system in Scotland? Is there going to be, after the next Scottish election, a majority for another party or a deal between other parties so that people aren’t permanently stuck with an SNP government in Scotland, even though most people will be thoroughly fed up with it.”
09:42 AM BST
Reader poll: Who should succeed Humza Yousaf?
John Swinney said yesterday that he was actively considering entering the SNP leadership race.
Meanwhile, Kate Forbes is giving “serious consideration” to another tilt at the top job.
Who would you prefer to take over from Humza Yousaf? You can have your say in our reader poll below:
09:29 AM BST
Opposition parties trying to ‘hoodwink’ voters on early Holyrood election, says Flynn
Stephen Flynn rejected opposition calls for an early Holyrood election as he insisted there should be no “democratic outrage” over passing power from one leader to the next.
The SNP’s leader in Westminster pointed out that MSPs at Holyrood elect the first minister in a way that MPs in the House of Commons do not elect the prime minister.
It was suggested to Mr Flynn that an early Holyrood election should be held because of the change in leader.
But he told the BBC: “The reality is that in Westminster the MPs do not elect a prime minister. In Holyrood they elect a first minister.”
He added: “I appreciate that political parties are trying to hoodwink the public into thinking there is some sort of democratic outrage here.
“But the reality is there is a big difference between Westminster, the Senedd and of course Scotland’s parliament at Holyrood.”
09:16 AM BST
Swinney the ‘serious politician’ Scotland needs, says senior SNP MP
John Swinney is the “serious politician” Scotland needs, one of his supporters argued this morning.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader in Westminster, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “These are serious times, deeply serious times, and serious times demand serious politicians and they don’t get much more serious, nor better, nor more experienced than John Swinney.
“John has obviously been out of frontline politics for a year or so since he stepped down as depute first minister.
“He is of course still younger than Keir Starmer but has a broad range of experiences within the Scottish government having of course previously been finance secretary.”
08:56 AM BST
SNP now has a ‘clean slate’ at Holyrood, says Stephen Flynn
The SNP now has a “clean slate” at Holyrood after Humza Yousaf’s decision to scrap the party’s coalition deal with the Scottish Greens, Stephen Flynn said.
The SNP’s leader in Westminster said he had supported the decision to tear up the Bute House Agreement.
He told the BBC: “The public were quite clearly in a slightly different place to where we were and now with a clean slate in government, back to being a minority government where we have been before many, many times, we can get on with the business of meeting the public where they are.”
08:45 AM BST
Flynn: SNP need to get back on the ‘front foot’
Stephen Flynn said the SNP needed to get back on the “front foot” and focus on “the things that matter most”.
The SNP’s leader in Westminster told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “It has been a tough time and firstly can I start by paying tribute to Humza Yousaf. He has served Scotland as First Minister with profound integrity, with compassion and I am very sorry that it has ended in this way.”
He added: “The focus now of course for both the party but more importantly the public and the country as a whole is what comes next and we need to make sure that as a party we are on the front foot talking about the things that matter most: Jobs, the economy, the NHS and of course dealing with the cost of living crisis within the confines of devolution.”
08:32 AM BST
Public unlikely to be gripped by SNP ‘soap opera’, says polling expert
A polling expert cautioned against the idea that the exit of Humza Yousaf as SNP leader could have a big impact among voters.
Professor Sir John Curtice said the wider public is unlikely to be gripped by the “soap opera” in quite the same way as journalists and commentators.
He told Times Radio: “We shouldn’t necessarily assume that the public are necessarily gripped quite so much by this soap opera in the way that one has to admit that most journalists and most commentators like me certainly are.”
08:23 AM BST
Polling expert: Exit of Yousaf could be ‘good news’ for SNP
Professor Sir John Curtice suggested opposition parties at Holyrood may have scored an own goal by helping to precipitate the exit of Humza Yousaf as SNP leader.
The polling expert said Mr Yousaf had ended up being “rather unpopular” with voters and his departure could actually be “good news” for the SNP.
He told Times Radio: “What happened yesterday might be regarded as a bit of good news for the SNP in that what the opposition have managed to do, they have been a bit too successful, they have actually managed to get rid of an SNP leader who has proven to be rather weak, struggled to bring his party together, struggled to give a consistent sense of direction.
“And now at least the SNP have an opportunity, although it comes with risk, to replace him with an alternative.”
08:02 AM BST
Early Holyrood election ‘only way to stop SNP chaos’, says Labour
Anas Sarwar claimed the SNP are no longer capable of providing Scotland with stable leadership as he repeated his call for an early Holyrood election.
The Scottish Labour leader said he believed an election was the “only way to stop the chaos”.
He argued the SNP “has become so chaotic, so divided, so dysfunctional that they aren’t able to give this country the stable credible leadership it needs”.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Sarwar said an election is the “only way that we can get stability back”.
The next Holyrood election is not scheduled to take place until May 2026.
07:53 AM BST
Pictured: Sunak goes for a run in Westminster with family dog Nova
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, is pictured this morning going for a run in Westminster with his dog Nova – Nigel Howard /Nigel Howard Media
07:47 AM BST
SNP leadership nominations now open, will close May 6
Nominations in the SNP leadership contest opened late last night and will close at noon on Monday May 6, it has been announced.
That gives potential candidates just under a week to declare their candidacy and put their name forward.
The timetable was set out by Lorna Finn, the SNP’s national secretary:
07:42 AM BST
SNP depute leader indicates support for John Swinney
Keith Brown, the depute leader of the SNP, has indicated he will back John Swinney to be the next leader of the SNP.
Replying to a question about who should replace Humza Yousaf, Mr Brown told Sky News: “I’ve set out criteria which I think should apply to whoever’s the next leader, and that means we should have somebody that’s willing to engage – you have to do that in a parliament of minorities – somebody that’s experienced and somebody that will bring unity, hopefully to the parliament, but certainly to the party.
“So, I think somebody who fulfils those criteria, and I think one of those that does that would be John Swinney, but there may well of course be others as well.”
07:39 AM BST
Salmond: Swinney ‘overwhelming favourite’ to replace Yousaf
John Swinney is the “overwhelming favourite” to succeed Humza Yousaf as SNP leader, Alex Salmond said as he warned his former party against a “coronation”.
The former first minister and now the leader of the rival Alba Party said appointing Mr Yousaf’s replacement without a vote of SNP members would leave them in a “very weak position”.
Mr Salmond told Sky News: “He [Mr Swinney] is an overwhelming favourite to take the job now. I am not going to pass verdict on who should be SNP leader except to say this, that no contest, a coronation, a shoo-in, is not necessarily a good thing because this will be the second time that the baton… has been handed on, from Nicola Sturgeon to Humza Yousaf and now to another candidate.
“If that person has no electoral mandate from the people and also has no mandate from the SNP members it will leave them in a very weak position.”
Mr Swinney has said he is considering a run for the top job and numerous senior SNP figures lined up to back him in the hours after Mr Yousaf’s resignation.
But Kate Forbes, who finished second to Mr Yousaf in the 2023 contest, is giving “serious consideration” to another bid which would make it a contest.
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