Kate Forbes SNP campaign launch upstages Nicola Sturgeon’s preferred successor

The devout Christian who wants to become the next SNP leader has upstaged Nicola Sturgeon’s preferred successor by confirming her candidacy as his campaign launch was due to get under way.

Kate Forbes, who some bookmakers have made favourite to become the next first minister, brought her leadership declaration forward to clash with an event organised by Humza Yousaf in Clydebank as the candidates jostled for position.

The SNP leadership race has already descended into acrimony, with several senior party figures launching attacks on Ms Forbes, suggesting her Christian beliefs on issues such as abortion and gay marriage mean she is unsuitable to lead the party.

The third candidate in the race, outsider Ash Regan, said on Monday that she was “utterly appalled” by “misogynistic attacks on Kate Forbes because of her Christian faith”. She added: “Kate is and always will be a great friend and colleague and it distresses me to witness this. It must stop immediately.”

Announcing her leadership bid just as Mr Yousaf’s campaign launch was due to get under way, Ms Forbes said she could “unite the party and the movement”.

She claimed Scotland and the independence movement were at a “major crossroads” and, in a thinly-veiled reference to claims that Mr Yousaf is an under-performing minister, said the SNP needed to choose “strong, competent leadership”.

Ms Forbes, who has a six-month old baby and is returning from maternity leave to run, added: “I can’t sit back and watch our nation thwarted on the road to self-determination.

“We urgently need to unleash the full talent of the SNP, the wider Yes movement and the country at large. We need to choose strong, competent leadership to deliver independence – the leadership that I can offer.

“I’m a unifier. I’ll reach out and listen so that every member feels valued and able to contribute. That’s also important if we’re to persuade others of the merits of independence.

“More than anything, we need a leader who’s bold, brave and energised, fresh-faced and ready for new challenges. Somebody who inspires your confidence as an SNP member, and who inspires the confidence of the people of Scotland to vote for a better future. I am that leader, and I want to lead our party into better days with integrity and commitment.”

Sources close to Ms Forbes had suggested on Sunday that she would reveal whether she was running on Monday afternoon at the earliest, and that an announcement could be as late as Wednesday. However, the timetable shifted after it emerged that Mr Yousaf planned to launch his campaign at 11am.

Seen as being on the right of the SNP, she cited her experience of managing Scotland’s budget and economy in her pitch to members.

Mr Yousaf is the choice of the SNP party establishment, with several figures close to Ms Sturgeon publicly backing his bid.

However, his reputation has been damaged by his running of the health service. He has vowed to protect Ms Sturgeon’s legacy by continuing a coalition with the Scottish Greens and going to court in a bid to overturn a UK Government veto of her gender law.

Angus Robertson ruled himself out of the race on Monday morning, paving the way for a three-way fight between Mr Yousaf, Ms Forbes and Ms Regan.

Neil Gray, the SNP minister who is backing Mr Yousaf, claimed the health secretary was “his own man” but that his status as the continuity candidate could boost his campaign.

“Nicola Sturgeon remains incredibly popular – she has delivered us a legacy of incredible popular support after 15, 16 years of SNP government,” said Mr Gray. “We still remain ahead by a large margin in the polls. So I think we need to make sure we honour her legacy.I feel Humza Yousaf is the best person to do that.”